Sep 3 2004
Global nanotechnology company pSivida Limited, is pleased to announce that its UK operating subsidiary pSiMedica Limited has been granted a further European patent for BioSiliconTM.
European Patent Number 1220659 relates to the invention of orally administrable pharmaceutical products (eg tablets, capsules, pellets and powders) that comprise porous and/or polycrystalline silicon (BioSiliconTM). Oral administration of drugs remains the most favoured route of treatment, being painless and enabling the patient to self-administer.
One of the key issues associated with oral delivery is the stability of the drug in the digestive system. Many current tableted products have enteric coatings to protect the active material in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. One of the greatest challenges in oral delivery is the effective administration and absorption of biologicals and highly insoluble therapeutic entities.
BioSilicon™ addresses many of the current issues associated with oral drug delivery:
- Protection of the drug in the acid environment of the stomach through the fact that BioSilicon™ does not dissolve in acidic solutions.
- BioSilicon™ is designed to slow-release drugs through controllable biodegradation providing the opportunity to optimize delivery and absorption.
- Chip-based BioSilicon™ devices would offer processor-based delivery targeted to different parts of the gut.
BioSilicon™, allows drug molecules to be held in nanosized pockets that release tiny pulses of drug as the BioSilicon™ dissolves. pSivida has adopted a two stage development strategy in oral drug delivery: in the short term, the company is focusing on biodegradable tablets that deliver over optimized periods. This will be followed by focusing on ‘smart’ tablets that release drug electronically. Electronically controlled drug delivery offers the opportunity for a nearby sensor within the pill to automatically deliver the right amount of drug at the right location.
An Australian patent has been granted previously over similar claims. The pSiMedica Intellectual Property portfolio now consists of 21 patent families, 20 granted patents and over 80 patent applications. pSiMedica owns all of the Intellectual Property (royalty free) for the application of BioSiliconTM.
Products protected by patents and patent applications owned by pSiMedica include materials comprising bioactive, resorbable and biocompatible silicon that are of value in the fabrication of new generations of intelligent drug delivery devices, orthopaedic implants and intelligent diagnostic tools.
For more information on drug release systems, click here.