Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in bacteria is becoming increasingly common thus urgently calling for alternative approaches to develop and implement novel antibiotics. We envision a definitive solution that will require a paradigm shift. Its foundation shall be the training of a new generation of future 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) by world-renowned experts in the field of drug development, infectiology, immunology and pharmacology. A unique state-of the-art teaching/training pipeline shall be developed across 7 academic and 5 SME partners with complementary expertise in the development and testing of novel approaches to antimicrobial therapy in humans. We shall establish knowledge and expertise on carbohydrate and protein chemistry for the discovery of new drug candidates, while characterizing the underlying mechanism of existing compounds for treatment of microbial infections. Computational modelling shall optimize the interactions of the novel entities with selected pathogens. A range of infection models allows partners to simultaneously determine compound efficacy in pre-clinical settings and investigate the potential effects of the novel antimicrobials on host tissues. State-of-the-art imaging tools will be applied to track the bacteria and novel compounds in these test systems. Uniquely, the pipeline will also determine the pharmacokinetics, and the effects of compounds on host microbiota and host immunity. Understanding the mechanisms of action of the novel antimicrobials shall provide insights into new antimicrobial mechanisms, which may be further exploited in spin-off projects. This approach means that the STOP SPREAD BAD BUGS consortium will deliver uniquely trained, multi- and interdisciplinary ESRs that will take the continuing fight against global MDR safely into the future.

L’article Horizon est apparu en premier sur Aquilon Pharma.

Aquilon Pharma initiated the AERONEXT project (duration: 63 months), launched in January 2020 and awarded a €3,2 million collaborative research grant from Belgium’s Walloon region government in coordination with the Region’s Health Competitiveness cluster BioWin.

For this AERONEXT project, to share their know-how, Aquilon Pharma, as project coordinator, jointed his expertise in formulation technology with several Wallonia-based partners:

• Simonis group specialized in polymer processing,
• Laboratory of Biology of Tumors and Development from Université de Liège (ULiège-LBTD) specialized in non-clinical pharmacology studies in rodents for the development of anti-asthma and anti-inflammatory drugs administered by inhalation.
• The accredited research center, CER group which has an extensive expertise in animal studies in a variety of species for the pharmaceutical industry.

AERONEXT project partners form a world-class consortium with huge expertise in the fields of pneumology, product formulation, non-clinical pharmacology, polymer processing. The consortium’s objectives are to improve the effectiveness of inhaled therapies by increasing and better target the pulmonary deposition of active molecules, budesonide (corticosteroid) and formoterol (bronchodilator).

The AERONEXT project has multiple objectives:

For Aquilon Pharmaceuticals:

• Development of effective inhalation therapies combining an innovative formulation technology (based on cyclodextrin and corticosteroid complexation) and a new generation, high-performance dry powder inhaler (DPI) for the treatment of asthma and COPD, both leading to higher and targeted lung deposition of active molecules.
• Development of a platform that can be adapted to products other than corticosteroids.

For Simonis group:

• Development of an extensive know-how in polymer processing (from product design up to small or large production runs)
• Production tooling for the plastic parts required for the dry powder inhaler.

For ULiege-LBTD:

• Set up various mouse models of asthma and COPD.
• Development of a unique and highly innovative powder inhalation technology using the PreciseInhale® (Inhalation Sciences, Sweden) so that rodents receive in a harmless and reproducible manner aerosolized powders.

For CER Group:

• Implementation of a preclinical inhalation platform in pigs, used as a risk reduction tool in drug development before embarking on complex and costly GLP toxicology studies. Because of their physiological similarities to humans, pigs are becoming increasingly attractive toxicological and pharmacological models.

L’article AERONEXT est apparu en premier sur Aquilon Pharma.

Aquilon Pharma announced that the AEROVID project (duration: 30 months), launched in February 2022, was awarded a €2,3 million collaborative research grant from Belgium’s Walloon region government in coordination with the Region’s Health Competitiveness cluster BioWin.

For AEROVID, to share their know-how, Aquilon Pharma, as project coordinator, recruited fellow Wallonia-based academic partners, Université de Liège (ULiège), the CMMI «Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging» established on Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Université de Mons (UMons), as well as the start-up Radiomics which is based in Liège and specialized in the development of Artificial Intelligence-based tools. AEROVID project partners form a world-class consortium with huge expertise in the fields of pharmacology, artificial intelligence, pneumology and inflammation. The consortium’s objectives are to improve the effectiveness of inhaled therapies and prevent the increasing prevalence of exacerbations of respiratory diseases.

“We are excited and proud to advance this promising disease management solution for the millions of people suffering from infection-induced respiratory diseases.” stated Natacha Rocks, AEROVID Project coordinator of Aquilon Pharma.

The main objectives of the AEROVID project are threefold:

L’article AEROVID est apparu en premier sur Aquilon Pharma.

Standard nasal sprays use preservatives, such as Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC) that can cause unwanted side effects, such as allergies or damage to the mucosal lining of the nose. Consequently,

the European Medicine Agency (EMA) recommends removing BAC from intranasal products.

Driven by the regulatory recommendations, as well as the desire to protect patients from adverse events, Aquilon has joined his expertise in formulation technology with the German company, Ursatec GmbH, German market leader in dosing devices for multiple applications of preservative-free products, to develop preservative-free approaches.

The NARIS project aims to develop and market innovative nasal sprays combining a preservative-free liquid pharmaceutical formulation with an innovative dosing device (3K® dosing system) which will guarantee the sterility of the product without the use of preservatives. These treatments will target various forms of (non)-allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis by combining corticosteroids and antihistamines or nasal mucosa protective agents.

With this new project, Aquilon leverages its formulation technology using HPBetadex in another area of expertise.

L’article NARIS project (NAsal Research and Innovation Study) est apparu en premier sur Aquilon Pharma.