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Press Release - Liverpool launches new Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics
University of Liverpool has launched a new research centre for the development of revolutionary long-acting medicines.
What is it about?
The LONGEVITY project is designed to implement preclinical and clinical long-acting injectable product development for long-acting formulations for malaria and tuberculosis prevention, and a single-injection cure for hepatitis C by taking pre-existing oral medicines and repurposing them as injectable formulations administered far less frequently, and thereby reducing the effect that unsustainable oral regimens have on patients.
Led by Professors Andrew Owen, Steve Rannard, and Saye Khoo from the University of Liverpool, the LONGEVITY project also involves critical partners in Johns Hopkins University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Treatment Action Group, Medicines Patent Pool and Tandem Nano Ltd.
Why is it important?
Approximately 90% of malaria infections and deaths, 95% of tuberculosis infections and deaths, and 75% of people living with hepatitis C live in low and middle-income countries with a combined burden estimated at 300 million people with more than two million deaths per year in these regions. One of the critical issues with treating and preventing these diseases is adherence to daily medication with stigma, pill burden and delivery modes all contributing to individual and global mortality and emerging resistance.
Long-acting injectable medicines have already shown great promise for HIV therapy and prevention and have demonstrated impact in several other applications such as contraception and schizophrenia. This sets a precedent for the wide-ranging and currently untapped impact achievable across malaria prophylaxis, tuberculosis prevention and hepatitis C virus cure.
Several technologies exist for long-acting drug delivery, each presenting different development, financial, clinical and logistical challenges and opportunities. Examples include injectables, implants and microarray patches currently at different stages of development. Implants are highly successful for potent drugs, but for most standard-of-care infectious disease therapies, the required concentrations are too high. Microneedle patches have shown early promise but may benefit from delivery of the formulations that ultimately control drug release.
Perspectives
The combination of a range of disciplines is critical to the creation of real-world impact and future therapies that can tackle the biggest healthcare issues facing the world. Through LONGEVITY and CELT we will have teams that span life sciences, clinical sciences and physical sciences focussed on clear goals that address unmet patient needs. We are hugely grateful to Unitaid for having the confidence to fund our ambitious programme.
