New Nanotechnology Increases the Efficacy of Medicines

LEIDEN, The Netherlands, March 11, 2011 - Technology has been developed within Top Institute Pharma that helps
medicines be absorbed quicker into the blood and thus be more effective.
Researcher Hans de Waard, who is associated with the University of Groningen,
will obtain his doctorate on this subject on March 11. De Waard: "Many
current medicines are not easily dissolved in the digestive tract, which
means that they barely reach the bloodstream. This, in turn, means that the
efficacy of medicines is not guaranteed. Since we can now produce
nanoparticles of these medicines, they are actually able to dissolve well."
This concerns medicines such as diazepam (valium), ibuprofen, and the
cholesterol-reducing fenofibrate. This research will enable lower doses and
reduce the chance of side effects.

Applying nanotechnology means that medicines will be able to be processed
into extremely small particles. According to De Waard, this research is
important for medicines that are taken orally (i.e. by mouth) and dissolve
poorly in water. This relates to 40 percent of all medicines currently in
development. De Waard indicates that the pharmaceutical industry is looking
at this new nanotechnology with considerable interest.

"Certain medicines fail in the development phase, although they might
have considerable potential if they were only able to dissolve better," said
De Waard. "Moreover, currently only a small portion of a medicine enters the
patient's bloodstream, which means that a doctor has to prescribe a much
higher dose that is actually necessary. Such a high dose means that there is
an even greater chance of side effects."

This research forms part of a broader research project at Top Institute
Pharma into greater efficacy of medicines for brain disease. This project's
partners include Abbott Healthcare Products BV, Radboud University Nijmegen,
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, University Medical Center
Groningen, the University of Groningen, Leiden University, and Utrecht
University.

For more information: Ingeborg van der Heijden, telephone number +31(0)71-332-2036 / +31(0)6-4612-2482 or by email at ingeborg.vanderheijden at tipharma.com.