Many of the next generation of protein drugs are often unstable and difficult to manufacture and maintain efficacy in storage. This grant will enable a collaboration that will refine Arecor’s formulation tools to address challenges such as chemical degradation and heat stability in protein drugs for enabling new drugs, making self-administered drugs easier to use and facilitating distribution in emerging markets with limited cold chain.

Arecor will collaborate with Manchester University’s Centre of Excellence in Biopharmaceuticals utilizing their robotics platform and Arecor’s patented formulation tools to expand Arecor’s proprietary database of protein-excipient interactions. Excipients are chemicals that maintain an environment that prevents the drug from degrading. This work will provide Arecor a significant advantage in designing formulations of drugs to meet the most demanding specifications.

Advisors on the development of this new technology that will improve healthcare provision to the third world and reduce the environmental burden of cold-chain provision include PrismTC, statistical consultants, Unilever and major pharmaceutical companies.

The formulated products market in the UK is worth around £180 bn a year. The competition is part of TSB’s commitment to invest up to £5m in feasibility projects and collaborative research and development to accelerate the development of new ways of designing, improving and manufacturing complex high-value formulated products in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, food, agrochemicals, paints, adhesives, lubricants and formulated process chemicals. A further £1m is available for collaborative research and development from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

 

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