IOTA NanoSolutions Limited and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) have today entered into an Agreement for the joint development of products for the more effective treatment and prevention of malaria.
Under the terms of the agreement, IOTA NanoSolutions and the LSTM will collaborate on a research programme to evaluate nano-dispersion formulations of certain anti-malarial agents. IOTA NanoSolutions has developed a proprietary nano-technology which enables the effective and enhanced formulation of poorly soluble and insoluble active ingredients in a variety of liquids including water. This technology has the potential to dramatically improve the bio-pharmaceutical properties of a number of poorly soluble anti-malarial agents that are incompletely absorbed by the body in their present formulations, thereby limiting their effectiveness.
LSTM, a major European Centre for new research in malaria and the developer of a number of anti-malarial initiatives including both drugs and insect control, will evaluate these new formulations of existing anti-malarial agents and take forward their development to deliver next generation treatments for the disease.
Professor Steve Rannard, CSO of IOTA NanoSolutions commented; "This collaboration provides an opportunity to focus the combined expertise of both groups on the formulation of completely novel anti-malarial treatments. It is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to such a global health issue, with the potential to benefit a large number of people."
Professor Steve Ward, Deputy Director of LSTM added "We are delighted to be working with IOTA NanoSolutions and having access to their ground breaking nano-technology for this project. The ability to make poorly absorbed anti-malarial drugs more effective would be a significant step in improving affordable treatments for this life threatening disease.
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For further information contact:
| For IOTA NanoSolutions Limited | For Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
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Tel: +44 (0)151 795 4219 |
Alan Hughes, Communications Manager |
Notes for Editors
About Malaria
Malaria, which is widely prevalent in tropical and sub tropical regions, is caused by parasites of the speciesPlasmodium which are spread between individuals when they are bitten by infected mosquito’s. It is estimated that approximately 40% of the world’s population (around 2.5 billion people) are at risk of malaria.1 Every year, more than 500 million people become severely ill with malaria and more than 1 million mortalities occur due to the effects of the disease.2 Many of these deaths are of children where it has been estimated that one child dies every minute from the disease.3 Furthermore, Malaria causes an average loss of 1.3% annual economic growth in countries with intense transmission and in some countries with a very heavy malaria burden, the disease may account for as much as 40% of public health expenditure on both prevention and treatment of the disease.4
1World Health Organization, 10 facts on malaria, 25th April 2007
2World Health Organization, 10 facts on malaria, 25th April 2007
3World Health Organization, Fact sheet N°94, May 2007, Malaria
4World Health Organization, Fact sheet N°94, May 2007, Malaria
About IOTA NanoSolutions Limited
IOTA NanoSolutions Limited was established as a spin-out from Unilever in 2005 to develop and commercialise a number of processes and formulation "know-how" in the field of nanotechnology.
The company has developed a nanodispersion formation technology which can be applied on a large scale to a wide array of insoluble and poorly soluble organic materials. The nanodispersions, containing small particles of material (typically 10 – 500nm) scattered evenly throughout the liquid often exhibit the characteristics of a solution enabling the effective delivery and formulation of poorly soluble ingredients. The approach is generic, with over 200 organic materials already successfully dispersed without the need for chemical modification. The IOTA NanoSolutions platforms may be used in any industry sector where poor solubility poses formulation constraints and impairs the performance of product ingredients.
IOTA NanoSolutions’ IP portfolio currently includes 16 published patents. The company has completed its base research and has an active pipeline of development partners. IOTA NanoSolutions has already concluded a number of Feasibility and Joint Development contracts.
Although funded and majority owned by Unilever Ventures, IOTA NanoSolutions Limited is operating as an independent business.
IOTA NanoSolutions was the first ever recipient of the Northwest Regional Development Agency's "Science and Technology Business of the Year" Award at the Liverpool Daily Post's Regional Business Awards 2007 and was also the winner of the Merseyside Innovation Award 2007.
IOTA NanoSolutions is the trading name of IOTA NanoSolutions Limited.
IOTA NanoSolutions® is the registered trademark of IOTA NanoSolutions Limited in the European Community, number E4660452.
About The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)
LSTM is a century old international centre of excellence with expanding research and teaching programmes including emerging and re-emerging diseases such as TB, HIV/AIDS and SARS in addition to a comprehensive portfolio of tropical diseases including malaria, dengue, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.
LSTM:
- holds over £100 million of research grants and contracts, placing it at the leading edge of scientific inquiry into all aspects of tropical international health
- employs more than 250 academics, research and support staff, with expansion plans underway to more than double in the next few years
- teaches more than 400 students from over 70 countries each year, from PhD research programmes to a range of short courses
- has ongoing projects and links into health ministries, universities and research institutions in over 80 countries
- was founded in 1898 and is the oldest school of tropical medicine in the world
The new Centre for Tropical and Infectious Diseases (CTID) is a state of the art facility opening in early 2008 which will greatly enhance our capability to develop drugs and vaccines for tropical diseases and innovative new forms of insect control.