Capsulution NanoScience AG signs development co-operation with Dutch OctoPlus B.V
Berlin/Leiden (April 28, 2003) - The Berlin-based drug delivery company Capsulution NanoScience AG and the Dutch company OctoPlus B.V. have recently signed a cooperation agreement that covers a feasibility study in the area of intracellular drug delivery.
Intracellular drug delivery aims at transporting drugs or genetic material into living cells. Besides other applications, intracellular delivery techniques are used in gene therapy, where they are expected to fuel considerable progress in the treatment of cancer and hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Immunotherapy will also significantly benefit from advanced intracellular delivery methods. In the past, intracellular drug delivery systems have been developed with limited success, often hampered by the cytotoxicity of the carrier systems. In other cases, drug substances that are to be delivered are degraded upon entering the cell.
In this collaboration, OctoPlus' established track record and expertise in drug delivery and development are combined with Capsulution's proprietary LBL-capsules. Within the scope of the agreement, the LBL-capsules are initially tested in cell cultures, thus providing basic data for the further development and future applications of the capsules within living organisms.
The project is rated to have a great chance of success since the drug carriers developed by Capsulution possess properties that make them ideally suitable for applications in intracellular drug delivery, such as reproducible size in the nanometer range and precisely adjustable surface functions.
Dr. Karsten Cremer, CEO of Capsulution, commented: "The partnership between Capsulution and OctoPlus combines exactly the right expertise that is necessary to secure a successful pre-clinical development of the new systems."
Dr. Joost Holthuis, CEO of OctoPlus, stated: "We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with Capsulution. Access to their proprietary nanosphere technology platform further strengthens our ongoing activities in the new and exciting area of intracellular drug delivery. We look forward to reaching the first milestones in our collaboration in the next few months."
About OctoPlus B.V.:
OctoPlus is a drug delivery and development company located in Leiden, the Netherlands. OctoPlus develops several innovative drug delivery technologies to ensure delivery of medicines at the right time at the right place of the body. Furthermore, OctoPlus is an established provider of pharmaceutical development services and GMP manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies world-wide. The company currently employs 85 people. OctoPlus recently signed a letter of intent with IsoTis NV regarding the acquisition by OctoPlus of shares IsoTis NV owns in drug delivery company Chienna BV.
About Capsulution NanoScience AG:
Capsulution NanoScience develops innovative drug delivery systems for the simple, efficient and safe delivery of pharmaceutically active compounds. The company applies its proprietary LBL-Technology® to build up the walls of nano- and micro-capsules in a layer-by-layer fashion. This technology is a high-tech tool for the creation of nano- and micro-sized capsules. Based on their minute size, their functionality and their highly reproducible production process the capsules can be used for a multitude of different applications. Accordingly, the precisely sized capsules (100 nm to 100 µm) can be made to function in a manner to suit the intended application, and can be given the appropriate biochemical, electrical, optical and magnetic properties as required by the customer. The capsules are already applied for the delivery of drugs, in cosmetic products, in diagnostics, and for crop protection. Today, the Berlin-based company has 20 employees. In 2001 Capsulution successfully completed its first round of financing raising around three million Euro. Investors in the company include venture capital companies like Berlin Capital Fund (BCF), BC Brandenburg Capital, and tbg, the Technologiebeteiligungsgesellschaft (Technology Equity Company) of the Deutsche Ausgleichsbank. Capsulution has already entered into several cooperation agreements with industrial corporations, such as Bayer AG, Gelita and other renowned companies.
Contact:
Capsulution NanoScience AG
Alexander Herrmann (CFO)
Volmerstr. 7b
D- 12489 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49-(0)30-63923627
Fax.: +49-(0)30-63923601
eMail: alexander.herrmann@capsulution.com
Web: www.capsulution.com
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