According to Impel NeuroPharma, the results of a human proof of concept study using SPECT imaging demonstrated nose-to-brain delivery by its Precision Olfactory Delivery (POD) device. The company said that the SPECT images showed deposition of radiolabeled tripeptide by the POD device in the deep nasal cavity and bypassing of the blood brain barrier with delivery to the central nervous system.
Impel CEO Michael Hite commented, “This is a major milestone for the company and groundbreaking for the industry. We conclusively demonstrated the POD technology can deliver clinically meaningful levels of biologic drug products to the central nervous system (CNS).” Hite added that results of the study would be presented at BIO 2013 in Chicago next week.
Chief Scientific Officer John Hoekman said, “We’ve made great progress in preclinical studies, with multiple successful programs with National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, and several pharma collaborators, but we’re really excited to advance the POD technology into the clinic” and added that the company plans to conduct two human IND studies in 2013.
The company noted that it has also receive a Small Business Investigational Research (SBIR) grant from NIH
of more than $650,000 for the development of “a cost-effective version of the POD device for use in research labs.” “The NIH has recognized the potential in nose-to-brain drug delivery,” Hoekman explained; “By expanding the application of the POD technology in basic and applied neuroscience we are hoping to accelerate development of therapeutics uniquely enabled by this route.”
Read the Impel Neuropharma press release.
