UBC/CDRD license tech platform to Covidien

Mansfield MA-based Covidien (formerly Tyco Healthcare) has licensed a new drug-delivery platform invented by Univ of British Columbia researcher Dr Pieter Cullis and developed in collaboration with the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD). Cullis, director of UBC's NanoMedicines Research Group, used CDRD's in-house facilities and expertise to perfect the new technology which is focused on anti-cancer compounds but can be applied to other therapeutic areas. Cullis took his initial discovery to CDRD which provided access to the Pfizer-CDRD Innovation Fund. While at CDRD, the new technology platform was subjected to analytical work, scale-up of drug derivatives, formulation, physical and chemical stability studies. The technology allows a wide variety of therapeutics to be delivered via liposomal nanoparticle technology. The value of the licence was not disclosed….