HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, on behalf of the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, has signed an asset transfer agreement with Takeda GmbH to exclusively transfer its Surfactant and Continuous Powder Aerosolization (CPA) program assets to Fraunhofer ITEM. The transfer includes the CPA technology platform – the technology for continuous aerosolization of powdery substances – and the know-how to manufacture recombinant surfactant protein C, together with the associated intellectual property. Fraunhofer ITEM is thus in a position to continue the development of therapies involving continuous inhalation of surfactant and other medications, begun 10 years ago as contract research on behalf of industry.
Closing down its respiratory department, Takeda transferred its Surfactant and CPA program assets and associated intellectual property to Fraunhofer ITEM. The CPA technology is the first non-invasive administration method for powdery surfactant drugs, required by patients with surfactant deficiency. Furthermore, this therapeutic approach has been investigated in other acute and chronic life-threatening diseases such as acute lung injury and COPD.
Surfactant is secreted by lung cells und reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing their collapse. Fetal surfactant production starts in week 24 of gestation. Preterm neonates suffer from varying degrees of pulmonary surfactant deficiency, which may lead to neonate respiratory distress syndrome. Surfactant-based therapy is the standard of care. Its use is limited, however, due to the currently invasive administration methodology. The CPA technology simplifies surfactant delivery to neonates and can also be used for children and adults. Recombinant surfactant protein C is the first recombinant surfactant protein suitable for use in synthetic surfactant drugs.
CPA is also a suitable technology to continuously deliver pulmonary high doses of non-soluble drugs to patients. In respiratory care, the standard of aerosolization for continuous inhalation is currently confined to different classes of nebulizers. In contrast, the CPA technology nowenables continuous inhaled administration of non-soluble drugs. In addition, it delivers higher drug concentrations and enables higher lung deposition rates.
Dr. Gerhard Pohlmann, Head of Medical Inhalation Technology at Fraunhofer ITEM with a 10+ year track record in CPA technology development, said: “As a long-standing partner in the CPA program, Fraunhofer ITEM is delighted to continue development of the surfactant and CPA technology platform. We are currently in the strategic process of reorganizing the program and selecting development partners.”
