Molecular Profiles Joins Leading Consortium to Drive Paediatric Formulation Development

A collaborative pharmaceutical project focused on improving the pathway for developing paediatric formulations has been given the go-ahead after successfully securing an innovation grant.

The UK-wide consortium, led by AstraZeneca, received a £660,000 grant from the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, to help fund a £1 million project aimed at accelerating paediatric formulation development through smart design and predictive science.

The consortium comprises pharmaceutical analytical development specialist Molecular Profiles along with Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline and academic institutions including University College London, University of Bath, University of Birmingham, Aston University and the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (a not-for-profit organisation).

Paediatric formulation development is more complex than the associated adult medicines. In addition to considering the differences in physiology and anatomy, paediatric formulations must offer flexible dosing and provide effective taste-masking.

This project will address the need to improve the speed, cost and quality of paediatric formulation development by drawing on the combined expertise of the consortium members. The goal is to deliver a novel, commercially available, regulatory-approved platform to identify the most appropriate delivery strategy.

Molecular Profiles' chief executive officer Nikin Patel said: “This collaborative project is an ambitious venture aimed at developing a strategic pathway to expedite the development of paediatric formulations, establishing the UK as a global leader in this area. Receipt of the Technology Strategy Board grant will enable us to move forward with this multi-partner project.

“To be involved with such credible consortium members from both large pharmaceutical companies and academia is exciting for Molecular Profiles. Our team is ready to apply our expertise to assist the consortium in achieving its collective goals,” concluded Dr Patel.

The government-backed Technology Strategy Board has awarded more than £9.2 million to support 35 collaborative projects to advance the UK’s capabilities in formulated products. The funding allocated through the Formulated products — meeting the product and process design challenge was shared across 19 feasibility projects and 16 collaborative R&D projects. The initial funding was increased by 50% due to the strength of submissions.