Inflammasome Therapeutics Receives Grant to Develop Sustained-Release Bioerodible Birth Control Implant

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inflammasome Therapeutics, a private, science-based company developing therapies for prevalent, degenerative diseases as well as sustained-release drug delivery systems, announced it has been awarded a $1.0-million grant to develop a long-term bioerodible birth control implant. The grant, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, covers the development of test devices and pre-clinical studies.

The implant will be designed to be injected under the skin and provide a constant and consistent low plasma level of the hormone levonorgestrel for a period of 1.5-2 years. After the drug has been fully released the implant will dissolve in the body requiring no removal as is current practice with the existing levonorgestrel implant in use today. The implant will also be less than half the size of present implants making it easier to administer.

Dr. Paul Ashton, CEO of Inflammasome Therapeutics said, “We are delighted to work with the foundation on this important program. This gives us the opportunity to apply our highly innovative technology to a long-standing clinical need.”

The implant represents the latest in a series of technical advances made by the members of the Inflammasome team that underpin a series of FDA approved sustained release products.

“The technology continues to evolve and this new iteration can now be applied to almost any small molecule requiring consistent dosing over an extended period of time. We expect this to be particularly useful for treating conditions such as arthritis, macular degeneration and HIV,” added Dr. Ashton.

Inflammasome will retain all intellectual property and marketing rights for the implant. The work covered by the grant is expected to be completed within 18 months.

Inflammasome Therapeutics (www.inflam.com) is a science-based company founded to develop therapies for prevalent, degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration and type 2 diabetes. These are all diseases of the inflammatory process driven by prolonged activation of inflammasomes. The company is focused on reducing dysregulation of the inflammatory process by preventing aberrant inflammasome activation. To this end, Inflammasome has identified and licensed a series of molecules – Kamuvudines – that successfully inhibit inflammasome activation in cell culture and animal models and intends to initiate clinical trials of its lead compounds soon. Inflammasome also develops novel delivery technologies for sustained release of therapeutic agents and compounds. By combining this scientific excellence with proven development expertise Inflammasome works to develop products via a mixture of licensing agreements and internal development.