Alabama Patent of the Month – February 2022
It is common to develop drug conjugates using water-soluble polymers as this can enhance the drugs properties. These polymer conjugates can provide a sustained and controllable delivery of a drug over longer time periods. This improves on other drug delivery systems which result in high concentration periods followed by lower concentration phases which can lead to reduced efficacy or even side effects. The conjugate helps to spread the dose out as a steady state delivery, improving their interaction with our body.
Serina Therapeutics, Inc. has recently developed a method to deliver these polymer conjugates subcutaneously – or beneath the skin via a needle. This required the formulation of a polymer conjugate made of the desired drug and a poly(oxazoline) polymer. The two compounds are linked by a hydrolyzable linker so that the drug can release from the polymer upon administration to the subcutaneous layer.
During synthesis, a predictable amount of the drug is incorporated into the backbone of the polymer. The rate of release is precisely controlled, allowing the drug to maintain desirable and stable levels in the blood.
This type of advancement is huge for treatments that have narrow therapeutic ranges. For instance, drugs used to treat neurological disorders may have a narrow range in which they work safely. The traditional method would be to dose more frequently – but this introduces fluctuations in the drug exposure. Using Serina Therapeutics’ system, the drug can be administered and released stably over time.
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