Midatech extends work with Janssen to another experimental molecule

Drug delivery technology company Midatech Pharma announced an extension of its existing research and development collaboration with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, agreed in July 2020.

The AIM-traded firm announced in June last year that, using its ‘Q-Sphera’ technology, it had successfully encapsulated a proprietary Janssen experimental large molecule medicine and preserved its functional integrity.

It said it believed “no other commercial or academic organisation” had been able to successfully deliver any such experimental medicine over extended periods using methods capable of commercial scaling.

Following the initial programme, the collaboration had now been extended to include another large molecule to the research performed by Midatech for Janssen.

As with the previous molecule, the company said the work would focus on maximising drug loading and optimising in-vitro duration of release for the undisclosed Janssen experimental molecule, using Q-Sphera technology.

“We look forward to working with Janssen and the application of our technology specific to this new API,” said chief scientific officer Dmitry Zamoryakhin.

At 1325 GMT, shares in Midatech Pharma were down 1.89% at 13p.