De Montfort University awarded Innovate UK funding for new feasibility study

The Leicester School of Pharmacy in collaboration with Biopharma Process System Ltd (Winchester) and OncoLytika (Wilburton, Ely) have been awarded funding from the Innovate UK Medicines Manufacturing Round 1 competition for a one-year feasibility study entitled FastLyo : Formulation Assisted Lyophilization by Reduced Vapour Flow Resistance.

This new project (grant ref. 133425) aims to develop instrumentation for the design of product formulations that deliver dramatic reductions in drying times, far exceeding those achievable by established technologies, while enhancing stability and extending shelf life.

Biopharma Process Systems Ltd is the world’s largest supplier of freeze-drying microscopes and impedance analysers to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors.

Kevin Ward (BPS Director of Research and Development) said:

“There is definitely a demand for higher throughput analysis and faster manufacturing processes, and this is what we aim to address in the FastLyo project. After knowing Prof. Smith for most of the 24 years I have been in the field of freeze-drying, I am excited to finally have the opportunity to collaborate with him on this project. The collaboration provides Biopharma with a tremendous opportunity to accelerate its instrument R&D programme and am confident that the value of the collaboration will be more than the sum of its individual parts.”

OncoLytika  Ltd who provide a range of consultancy packages to the Pharma and Biotech industry (including: Opportunity Recognition; Product/Service Innovation; Project Management; Due Diligence; and Business Planning) will be responsible for overall project management, while developing the market exploitation strategy.

 

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