During the visit Mr Willetts was given a demonstration of the Oxyzyme patch, one of Arecor’s first projects to develop a wound healing dressing that could withstand the sterilization process and be used as a therapy for those with chronic ulcerated wounds which take can take months to heal. The patch contains an enzyme which pumps oxygen into the wound, accelerating the healing process.
Mr Willetts said: "Innovative companies like Arecor are helping to keep the UK at the very forefront of life sciences, which is why we supported them through the Biomedical Catalyst. It was a pleasure to visit the company today to learn more about how their treatments and technologies are driving growth and benefiting patients."
Arecor, one of the first companies in the UK to be awarded a major grant from the Biomedical Catalyst last November, is a pioneer in the stabilisation of biologic molecules, a key challenge in the development of many therapeutic proteins, vaccines and diagnostics. These are often too unstable in liquid form to develop ready-to-use drugs or are unstable at high concentrations. Arecor has developed a set of unique technologies to address these problems which has the potential to revolutionise the development, use and distribution of the next generation of therapeutic medicines.
Arecor’s CEO Tom Saylor said: "We were thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate and explain our unique technology to Mr Willetts and are grateful for his support for small, emerging biotechnology ventures.
“Arecor's ground-breaking technology for stabilisation of proteins and peptides, supported by the Biomedical Catalyst grant, can play a crucial role in enabling new drugs and saving healthcare costs by simplifying administration and increasing compliance on the use of such drugs. Support for this technology, including Arecor’s new insights into the mechanisms of protein degradation, can ensure leadership for the UK in commercialization of our extraordinary and talented science base."
Arecor is a spin out from Unilever in 2007 and was founded on a revolutionary technology that enabled new and advanced solutions for enhancing the utility of biological medicines. It has partnered with the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies to enhance the commercial value and practical utility of many different types of proteins, and in many different applications such as vaccines, therapeutic proteins, or proteins used in medical devices.
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Further information about Arecor can be found out: http://www.arecor.com/
For media enquiries, please contact Kelly Mepham, Business Development & Marketing Associate, on 01223 426060.
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