Liposomal glucocorticoid as novel treatment for rheumatic diseases. Optimization of anti- inflammatory and disease modulating activity. (NGT.7440)

Project nummer: ngt7440

Omschrijving van het onderzoek

Glucocorticoids (GC) belong to the most powerful drugs used to combat rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Apart from beneficial effects, GC also have major side effects.Recent studies in animal models of RA have shown that prednisolone-phosphate (PP) encapsulated in long-circulating liposomes (LCL) coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has the ability to accumulate selectively in inflamed areas in the body after intravenous administration. Consequently, a dramatic increase of the intensity and durability of the therapeutic benefit (i.e. anti-inflammatory activity and prevention of cartilage destruction) of corticosteroids was found, meanwhile minimizing the side effects of the drug. Recently newer corticosteroids than prednisolone have been developed with specific properties that make them especially attractive in the concept of liposomal drug targeting. Furthermore PEGylated liposomes have been shown to cause hypersensitivity reactions in 5-10% of the patients.
The aim of the project is to develop a novel and improved LCL-GC formulation without PEG that contains the optimal GC encapsulated in the optimal liposome type for targeted drug delivery in rheumatic diseases but without the drawbacks of PEG.
We expect that the project will yield an LCL-GC formulation without PEG with optimized behavior in vivo (strong and long-lasting anti-inflammatory activity with minimal side effects) and attractive properties for industrial development (patent protection, full freedom to operate, and low production costs).

Gebruikers

Four companies are involved in this project.

Projectleider

Prof.dr. W.B. van den Berg

Universitair Medisch Centrum St. Radboud
Reumatische Ziekten
Hfd. Experimenteel Lab.

Postbus 9101
6500 HB Nijmegen

Status van het project

Gestart	: 01-11-2006
Einddatum	: 01-11-2009

Trefwoorden

Diermodellen, Glucocorticoiden, Kraakbeen/botafbraak, Kweeksystemen, Lang circulerende liposomen, Pharma, Reumatoide arthritis.

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