Full Press Release Details
("Midatech", "Company"
Midatech Announces Q-Sphera Microsphere
Technology Partnership
Midatech Pharma (AIM: MTPH, Nasdaq: MTP), the R&D
company focused on delivering innovative oncology and rare disease products to patients, today announces an agreement with a major
regional corporation ("the Partner"), in which the Partner will evaluate Midatech's Q-Sphera microsphere
sustained release technology for use with the Partner's materials.
Under the collaboration agreement, the Partner will conduct
a feasibility program using Midatech's Q-Sphera technology. No financial terms have been disclosed.
The agreement follows the positive clinical proof-of-concept'
in August this year for Q-Sphera as a sustained release drug platform in the MTD201 first-in-human study. This study was
a key inflection and validation point for both the Q-Sphera technology, as well as its application in a therapeutic product
MTD201 for carcinoid cancer and acromegaly.
Q-Sphera is the next generation micro-encapsulation
and polymer-depot sustained release (SR) drug delivery platform developed by Midatech using a novel and disruptive printing-based
process, with significant and distinct advantages over conventional technologies. From a manufacturing perspective Q-Sphera
is an improved precise, scalable, efficient, and environmentally friendly microparticle manufacturing platform. From a clinical
profile perspective it ensures homogenous microparticles that release active drug compounds into the body in a linear, well controlled
and predictable manner over an extended period of time. Finally, from a convenience perspective Q-Sphera allows simpler and quicker
reconstitution, improved injectability and less painful injections due to the smaller needle size required.
The global controlled release market size is in the order
of $32bn, and the current market for sustained release microsphere products is approximately $6bn pa1 which includes
blockbuster drugs for oncology, hormonal disorders, autoimmune diseases, various mental health disorders, alcohol/ drug dependence
and pain management.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Craig Cook, Chief
Executive Office of Midatech Pharma, said: "We are delighted to announce this partnership with a leading global pharmaceutical
corporation. This marks another important step in the development of our impressive Q-Sphera technology, after the
positive clinical proof of concept' first-in-human study earlier this year in carcinoid cancer and acromegaly. Together
with partnerships such as the one being announced we are focused on increasing our traction in the sustained delivery market, where
we hope to establish Q-Sphera as the leading platform. Our innovative sustained release technology has the potential to improve
the efficacy, safety and convenience of existing drugs by enabling improved clinical release profiles of drugs. We look forward
to the results of this feasibility collaboration, as well as further developing the platform and working with this partner and
others looking to capture a share of the multibillion dollar market for sustained release treatments."
1 Transparency; Grandview; GlobalData Research
For more information, please contact:
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Corporate finance: Freddy Crossley / Emma Earl
Corporate broking: James Stearns
Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial PR)
Mary Jane Elliott / Nicholas Brown / Angela Gray
Westwicke Partners (US Investor Relations)
About Midatech Pharma
Midatech Pharma (LSE AIM: MTPH; NASDAQ: MTP) is an R&D
company focused on delivering innovative oncology and rare disease products to patients. The Company is developing a range of improved
chemotherapeutics or new immunotherapeutics, using its three proprietary platform drug delivery technologies, all of which are
in the clinic, specifically:
Each of our three technologies are thus focussed on improved
bio-delivery and bio-distribution of medicines or agents to areas of the body where they are needed and can exert their actions
in an effective, safe and precise manner.
Midatech is headquartered in Oxfordshire, with an R&D
facility in Cardiff and a manufacturing operation in Bilbao, Spain. For more information please visit www.midatechpharma.com.