TouchSprayTM Technology / A new advance in drug delivery from ODEM LIMITED

Cambridge (PROTEXT/ots) - The pulmonary and nasal routes havelong been considered a potentially excellent and pain freealternative for the administration of drugs which currently haveto be given via a needle. The goal of maximising these routesreceived a recent boost with the introduction of TouchSprayTMTechnology which is capable of generating precisely controlledaerosols of therapeutically beneficial drugs. TouchSprayTMTechnology's precision control of aerosols generation willfacilitate optimal drug absorption in the relevant pulmonary andnasal regions. This innovative technology has been licensed to a new jointventure company, ODEM, for pulmonary and nasal inhalerapplications. Three companies have joined forces to form ODEM - Bespak, aleading manufacturer of drug delivery systems and one of thelargest volume suppliers of inhalers; PARI GmbH a market leaderin the supply of nebulisers and The Technology Partnership (TTP),Europe's leading independent technology development company. The combination of electronic control, precise droplet sizeand low droplet velocity enables TouchSprayTM Technology todeliver therapeutically beneficial drugs deep into the lungs in aconsistent and efficient manner. TouchSprayTM Technology issuitable for the treatment of diseases local to the lung (e.g.Asthma and COPD) as well as for the systemic delivery ofcompounds, which previously had to be administered via a needle.Drugs such as insulin for the treatment of diabetes and otherproteins/peptides for the treatment of cancer, multiplesclerosis, hepatitis C and other specific conditions could all beadministered to the patient via the lung and in certain cases thenose, using TouchSprayTM Technology. ODEM has appointed Dr Jonathan Smart as Head of CommercialDevelopment. He joins ODEM after spending 14 years working forleading international pharmaceutical companies both in thetechnical and commercial areas. Dr Smart will be responsible forthe development of partnerships with leading pharmaceutical anbiotech companies. Commenting on the potential for TouchSprayTM Technology,Jonathan Smart said: "The systemic delivery of compounds throughthe lung has always been seen as an excellent alternative to theinvasive parenteral route. TouchSprayTM Technology has thepotential to unlock this route with its ability to precisely andefficiently deliver suitable aerosolised drugs deep into thelung. It is an extremely efficient and innovative method ofdelivery that will revolutionise the treatment of certaindiseases." Talking about the scope of ODEM, Gaynor Fryers, CommercialDirector at Bespak, said: "The depth of our experience at Bespakin device development for the inhalation market and experience indeveloping commercially viable devices for full-scale manufacturewill be available to the joint venture as will the invaluable ancomplementary expertise of PARI and TTP." "This combination of expertise and experience, really isformidable and, when you put that together with a breakthroughsuch as TouchSprayTM Technology, it is really a very excitingdevelopment." Dr Martin Knoch, Managing Director of PARI GmbH, said: "Rightnow PARI and TTP are developing an advanced electronic nebulisersystem based on TouchSprayTM Technology. ODEM will receiveimmediate benefit from this through early recognition of the newtechnology an the market and the experience and knowledge thathas already been built up. PARI look forward to contributingtheir R & D and market expertise to this challenging newenterprise." "As a part of our on-going strategy of creating new technologybased business," commented Dr David Parnell, a director of TTP,"TTP has invested many man-years of development in TouchSprayTMTechnology and the creation of ODEM will enable a wholegeneration of drug delivery devices to be brought to thehealthcare market." Bespak, TTP and PARI will all have equal shares in the newjoint venture, with Gaynor Fryers, Commercial Director at Bespak,David Parnell, Director at TTP and Martin Knoch, ManagingDirector at PARI GmbH becoming directors of ODEM. Background Bespak plc ha sits main production facility in King's Lynn andadditional plants in Milton Keynes and the USA. The company is inthe forefront of developing new delivery systems for thepharmaceutical industry. It has a product range covering metereddose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, actuator and spacer systems,as well as specialist components and assemblies for the medicaldevice industry. Bespak will provide the industrialisation andmanufacturing expertise in high volume automated moulding andassembly for the ODEM products and certain product developmentactivities. Bespak UK headquarters are based in Bergen Way, King's Lynn,Norfolk. Telephone: +44 (0) 1553 691000 Fax:

+44 (0) 1553693728 E-Mail: technologies@bespak.co.uk www.bespak.com PARI GmbH is a third-generation family-owned German companythat is run jointly by Dr Zimmermann, who heads up the commercialside of the business and Dr Martin Knoch who is the company'stechnical head. The company specialises in the development,manufacture and sales of sophisticated nebulisers and compressorsthat are particularly applicable to the treatment of seriouslyill and home-based patients who require high dosage ofmedication. PARI will provide ODEM with the manufacturingexpertise for the atomizing heads of ODEM's products and play arole in product development. PARI GmbH headquarters are located in Moosstrasse 9 D-82319Starnberg/Germany. Telephone: +49 (8151) 279 - 0 Fax:

+49(8151) 279 - 101

www.pari.de The Technology Partnership plc (TTP) is Europe's majorindependent product development company providing a continuousstream of new products for the world's largest companies as wellas the smallest and most ambitious TTP develops and suppliessystems for both the manufacturing and testing of pharmaceuticalsas well as for drug discovery and drug delivery. TTP will providedevelopment expertise for customised atomizing heads and inhalerproduct design. TTP is located at Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road,Melbourn, Royston Herts SG8 6EE. Telephone: +44 (0) 1763 262626Fax:

+44 (0) 1763 261582

www.ttpgroup.com ots OriginalText Service: ODEM Limited Internet: www.presseportal.de Formore information please contact: Dr Jonathan Smart ODEM LimitedMelbourne Science Park Cambridge Road, Melbourn Royston, HertsSG8 6EE Tel: +44 1763 266200 Fax: +44 1763 266290 jrs@odem.co.ukwww.odem.co.uk

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