XenoGesis gets research grant

XenoGesis to research inhalation medicine with view to 'once-a-day' use.

A share of the government-backed Biomedical Catalyst Feasibility grant set aside for developing inhaled muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists so they only need to be administered once a day has been approved, with the contract going to bioanalysis specialist XenoGesis.

The company applied for the grant in December following a strenuous assessment process, although the decision has just today (January 16th) been made public.

Dr Richard Weaver, of XenoGesis, commented: "This is great news. This project could lead to important (and valuable) Intellectual Property for the company."

He added that his research team will be working in conjunction with Dr Michael Stocks of Nottingham University in order to synthesise compounds using a fully-funded research fellowship.

Inhalation is an extremely important method of delivery for treating people with lung conditions such as asthma, but current therapies are lacking research that could lead to a 'once-a-day' use, which would not only be commercially successful but also highly practical.