Arecor Therapeutics PLC (AIM:AREC), the Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company listed on AIM, has established a new scientific advisory board made up of internationally recognised experts in oral drug delivery and peptide therapeutics. The company announced the move on Monday.
Arecor is developing a novel technology platform designed to improve the oral delivery of peptides, which are small proteins used in medicines for conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Oral delivery means taking medication by mouth, a preferred method for many patients compared to injections.
However, peptides are difficult to deliver this way because they often break down in the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream.
The company aims to significantly increase the bioavailability of these drugs, which is the amount that actually reaches the bloodstream and can have an effect.
The new advisory board will provide technical expertise and strategic guidance as Arecor works to overcome the challenges of effective oral peptide delivery.
It includes David Brayden, a professor of advanced drug delivery at University College Dublin. He specialises in oral peptide delivery and nanomedicines, with more than 300 research publications and 12 patents.
Brayden also co-leads a European research project on delivering peptides through the inside of the cheek and holds leadership roles in several scientific organisations.
Randy Mrsny, professor of drug delivery at the University of Bath, also joins. His research focuses on how drugs cross biological barriers and their behaviour after injection.
He has founded multiple biotech companies and held senior roles at major pharmaceutical firms. Mrsny is a recognised figure in the field of controlled release science, which involves designing drugs to release their active ingredients in a controlled way over time.
Christopher Porter, director of the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Australia, rounds out the group.
His work centres on how drugs are absorbed, distributed, and eliminated by the body, as well as how to optimise these processes through new formulations. Dr Porter has published extensively and holds numerous patents.
Chief scientific officer, Jan Jezek, described the new advisory board as an "exceptional group of experts".
"The challenge of oral peptide delivery has persisted for decades, with even the most advanced therapeutics on the market achieving less than 1% bioavailability," he explained.
"At present, nearly all peptide drugs are only injectable and there is well-established evidence that their oral delivery would improve patient compliance and adherence, reducing the overall healthcare burden and improving access."