University Licenses Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Technology

(National Institute of Standards and Technology)

The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), both in Vancouver, Canada, said today that Covidien, a Dublin, Ireland provider of health care products, has licensed a drug-delivery platform technology invented by UBC researcher, Pieter Cullis. CDRD provided the development facilities and commercialization services that led to this agreement.

The technology allows drugs to be delivered through a liposomal nanoparticle (LNP) platform. LNP delivery, says Cullis, can enhance drug potency and reduce toxic side effects. While current work focuses on anti-cancer compounds, the platform could be applied as well to many other therapies.

After the initial discovery at UBC, the Cullis research project was transferred to CDRD for further preclinical advancement and development, and received funding support from CDRD through the Pfizer-CDRD Innovation Fund. This fund was created to accelerate commercialization of academic research projects into medicines.

Related: U.S., Europe Patents Issued for RNAi Drug Delivery

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