NanoMaterials Technology to collaborate with pharma business

Singapore company NanoMaterials Technology (NMT) is to conduct a feasibility study with a US-based emerging pharmaceutical company.

Singapore company NanoMaterials Technology (NMT) is to conduct a feasibility study with a US-based emerging pharmaceutical company.

As part of the feasibility agreement, NMT will apply its proprietary technology - High Gravity Controlled Precipitation (HGCP) - to the design of drug particles for pulmonary inhalation.

"Altering the particle design of drug compounds changes the physical properties of the drugs and this leads to enhanced drug efficacy and patient compliance," said NMT ceo Dr Jimmy Yun. "NMT's niche in the pharmaceutical industry is in particle design and the company is currently focusing its development on solid oral and inhalation delivery.

The company is in talks with pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe for several development agreements. As part of its drive into the pharmaceutical sector, NMT has appointed John Mitchell and Prof. Dr. Siegfried Neumann to its scientific advisory board.

Mitchell retired from Pfizer Inc as senior vice president and president/team leader of Pfizer global manufacturing at the end of 2004. While at Pfizer, he was responsible for worldwide manufacturing operations that produced pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare and animal health products, encompassing plants and logistics centres at more than 120 sites in 40 countries.

Neumann is a senior consultant of R&D at Merck KGaA and was a group leader in R&D in the diagnostic division until 1985. He subsequently headed up the immunochemistry department in preclinical research at Merck Pharma until 1989.

Yun said: "It is a great pleasure and honour for us to have both John and Prof. Neumann joining our SAB. Their addition to our SAB is invaluable as they bring with them broad and in-depth experience in the pharmaceutical industry."