Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are amongst the most common causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, representing together the third largest medical market. Their prevalence is increasing due to the global industrial pollution. Inhaled therapies, the preferred treatment options, are made of a drug combined with a medical device. The current Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) systems are not optimal regarding drug deposition in the lung, leading to poor efficacy and side effects.
Aquilon Pharmaceuticals and Simonis Group, with the help of the CER and the Laboratory of Biology of Tumors and Development (ULiège), decided to combine their expertise into a drug-device platform to develop innovative inhaled DPI systems with increased lung deposition, expected to be at least 3-fold higher than the one of conventional therapies. At term, the drug powders and the DPI devices will be made in Wallonia, leading to the creation of more than 70 employments by 2024.
Consortium
Companies : Aquilon Pharma, Simonis Group
Universities : ULiège (LBTD)
Research centers : CER
Contact :
Ludivine Petit : lpetit@aquilonpharma.com
Website : www.aquilonpharma.com