Beating the barrier for good - PrioCam opens at the London Bioscience Innovation Centre
19 January 2010
Innovative biotechnology company, PrioCam, a company born out of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has developed unique technology, which enables the production of novel antibodies that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and facilitate the entry of drugs into the central nervous system (CNS).
The blood-brain barrier is the body’s natural protective mechanism that restricts the free passage of circulating large and small molecules, from the blood into the interstitial space of the brain. PrioCam’s technology will use camelid antibodies to ‘beat’ the blood-brain barrier and transport otherwise non-penetrant pharmaceutical agents to treat disorders of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Based in the London Bioscience Innovation Centre (LBIC), www.lbic.com, a global bioincubation and biotechnology innovation centre, PrioCam is seeking investors keen to share in the development of its receptor-mediated transport technology.
“Our next steps will focus on developing protocols and methods of conjugation for coupling the antibodies to drugs,” says Michael Simonds, director and CEO of PrioCam. “Then we can work with potential partners to improve the neurotherapeutic efficacy of a ‘library’ of drugs that are currently excluded from the brain by the blood-brain barrier mechanism and proceed towards clinical trials.”
Potential investors, especially pharmaceutical companies looking for innovative delivery systems for their CNS drugs, should visit www.priocam.co.uk or contact Michael Simonds, msimonds@rvc.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7691 2078.
Further Information
To request further information or an interview please contact:
- Hannah Murray on 01727 737997
email: hannah@communicationsmanagement.co.uk - Phil Smith on 01727 850761
email: phil@communicationsmanagement.co.uk
The Royal Veterinary College
Established in 1791, the RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college—with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.