 Proof of concept funding awarded to Professor Nicola Tirelli, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
Friday 25th February, 2005
The University of Manchesters technology exploitation company, UMIP (The University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd., www.umip.com) is pleased to announce that it has awarded proof of concept funding to Professor Nicola Tirelli, of the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences of our University.
The award is made to enable the development of a project recently launched in the group of Prof. Tirelli and object of a patent application in 2004.
The present project is based on an innovative concept of drug carrier, which aims to provide a new form of targeted tumour therapy in man, enhancing the prospects for better treatment in cancer.
Prof. Tirelli has employed his expertise in the development of novel biomaterials for the preparation of nanoparticles (objects smaller than 1 micron and composed of organic polymers) that accumulate in solid tumors masses and there generate powerful chemotherapic agents.
This method is thought both to greatly enhance the selectivity of chemotherapic treatments and to dramatically reduce side effects of the drugs on healthy tissues, which is one of the greatest problems of current chemotherapic techniques.
One of the benefits of receiving this funding has been the ability to develop commercial relationships with a Swiss company, Medipol (www.medipol.ch). Medipol is a Swiss start-up company that is developing applications of biopolymers for the Life Science Industry. Dr. Carsten Laue, CEO of Medipol said It was very exciting to hear about the proof of concept funding as this is exactly what is required to move good patented ideas along the development process. We are pleased also to have been able to contribute to the overall costs of the designed program, alongside the Universitys funding.
From left to right: Dr Conor Mulrooney (Project Manager, UMIP); Dr Peter Käuper (Technical Director, Medipol); Professor Nicola Tirelli (Faculty of Medical & Human Sciences, University of Manchester); Dr. Carsten Laue, (CEO, Medipol) and Dr Martino Picardo (General Manager, UMIC)
In addition, Medipol are engaged with The University of Manchester Incubator Company Ltd (UMIC, www.www.umic.co.uk), in an attempt to appraise other potential commercial opportunities either through the University or its Incubator tenants. The opportunity to engage with companies like Medipol to describe the commercial activities of both the Intellectual property and the Incubator Company of the University of Manchester is very important. It enables us to build strong relationships and helps us to understand a Companys needs in terms of new technologies, stated Martino Picardo, General Manager, UMIC.
Prof. Tirelli has developed a good understanding of the Intellectual property landscape in the Biopolymer field and has already established a good working relationship with Medipol. He is keen to explore the commercialisation of his technology, pending proof of concept being shown, working closely with UMIP and UMIC. Concurrently, the University (through UMIP and UMIC) will be exploring options to develop and build on what is already a flourishing relationship with Medipol. The CEO of Medipol is also keen to do likewise and other technologies and SMEs have been identified for further exploration between the two parties. The current marketing agreement that is in place between Medipol and the University of Manchester to commercialise Prof. Tirellis work will shortly be renewed.
For further details
Contact: Martino Picardo
General Manager
University of Manchester Incubator Company
e-mail: [email protected]
www.www.umic.co.uk
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