Researchers develop capsule-based haemophilia treatment tech
pharmafile | November 30, 2016 | News story | Research and Development | University of Texas, haemophilia
Researchers at the University of Texas have developed a new method for treating haemophilia B which utilises a biodegradable oral delivery system and could prove a valuable tool in working around existing roadblocks in tackling the disease.
The technology is a capsule-based system built from micro and nanoparticles that safely passes through the stomach wall into the small intestine, where the body’s enzymes break down the capsule’s shell, gradually releasing its contents: human factor IX (hFIX), a protein therapy for treating the disease.
“Based on the current capabilities of this system, approximately two capsules would be equivalent to one injection,” said lead study author Sarena Horava. “However, we anticipate that we will make further improvements to the delivery capacity of the oral delivery system and therefore decrease the capsule amount.”
Currently, haemophilia sufferers must regularly rely on an expensive needle-based administration system which even limits the treatment’s availability to some regions because of the frequent high costs; the new system could be seen to impact patients both in and outside of developing zones:
“In many developing countries, the median life expectancy for haemophilia patients is 11 years due to the lack of access to treatment, but our new oral delivery of factor IX can now overcome these issues and improve the worldwide use of this therapy,” added Horava.
The bleeding disorder haemophilia affects around 400,000 worldwide through its two manifestations (A & B). The researchers at the University of Texas now hope to solidify the technology’s effectiveness before moving to the clinical trial stage.
Matt Fellows
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