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A new drug with a novel mechanism of preventing restenosis
was discovered by Associate Professor Sim Meng Kwoon of the National
University of Singapore’s Pharmacology Department. The drug des-aspartate-angiotensin
I (DAA-I) acts on a specific receptor, which is coupled to a specific
prostaglandin pathway, to suppress clot formation. In this way, secondary
or adverse effects have not been encountered with DAA-I.
Currently, metal stents that are inserted into patients’
blood vessels after angioplasty are coated with a bio-degradable polymer
impregnated with drugs to prevent restenosis, or recurrent narrowing
of blood vessels. Existing stent drugs like sirolimus and paclitaxel
are nonspecific immunosuppressant and anti-cancer drugs, which may affect
other cells.
Medlogics Device Corporation is a start-up company founded
by a group of professionals with experience in medical devices and stents.
It has a proprietary coating technology that enables drugs to be coated
directly onto the metal of the stent bypassing the use of bio-degradable
polymers. This technology reduces the cost of making the drug-coated
stents, ensures consistent release of drugs, and reduces the inflammation
caused by the polymers. DAA-I has been selected by the company as the
first drug candidate out of seven candidates for further development
with this technology.
The license agreement between NUS and Medlogics is the
first of its kind for NUS and Singapore, in which a Singapore-discovered
drug will be commercialized in the United States. It is also the first
such combination where a specific anti-restenosis drug is incorporated
by the new techonology.
ILO played an instrumental role in negotiating
and completing the exclusive license agreement between NUS and Medlogics
Device Corporation. ILO works with researchers such as Associate Prof Sim Meng Kwoon to transfer their technologies to industry.
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