N4 Pharma has a controlling interest in Nanogenics Limited. Nanogenics has developed a lipid and peptide-based delivery system, LipTide® which it is using in the formulation of a novel siRNA product, ECP105.
LipTide®
LipTide is a patent protected delivery system for nucleic acids that mimics a natural virus for targeted delivery of RNA into cells. The peptide binds payload and targets specific cells while the lipid allows for efficient endosomal release into the cell.
With appealing clinical properties, the capability to deliver genetic material to almost any cell type, low toxicity, and repeat dosing, LipTide represents new promise across several therapeutic areas where there is unmet need.
siRNA therapeutics
As a non-viral, non-lipid delivery system, LipTide is supporting the development of ECP105 for the recovery of post-surgical treatment of glaucoma. ECP105 contains a proprietary siRNA sequence to silence the fibrotic gene MRTF-B, which is also responsible for fibrosis of the liver and the lung.
Glaucoma patients who have failed to respond to medication need surgery (trabeculectomy) to lower intraocular pressure, though this causes fibrosis at the surgery site which often leads to failure of the surgery and patients may have to undergo further surgery as a result. Even with adjunctive anti-fibrotic therapy, five-year failure rates can be as high as 50%.
ECP105 is a breakthrough anti-fibrotic siRNA therapy intended for injection into the ocular cavity to switch off the gene responsible for the fibrosis. Unlike current off-label treatment using toxic chemotherapy drugs like Mitomycin C, ECP105 is intended for repeat use to prevent the need for further surgery.
In 2020, more than 75 million people worldwide were recorded to be affected by glaucoma. The total glaucoma treatment market size exceeded USD 5.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to witness over 3.2% CAGR from 2022 to 2028.[1] This growth is expected to be driven by several factors including:
- Advancements in therapeutic interventions
- Rising patient pool of geriatric population
- Increased clinical trials
- Increased awareness of eye care/ earlier diagnosis
For more information and updates about LipTide and ECP105, visit: https://nanogenics.co.uk/en/
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