European Commission opens the gate towards the implementation of Nanomedicine Translation Hub

A major step in implementing the ETPN Translation Hub (an umbrella of dedicated new infrastructures, programmes and projects to enhance the innovation capacity of SMEs and academia in order to accelerate the development of nanomedicines towards the market) has been reached, with three European projects entering the finalisation stage of their EU Grant Agreements. The project ENATRANS is for networking of SMEs in the nano-biomedical sector and supporting the SMEs with getting their products from the laboratory phase to the clinical applications.  The projects ‘NANOFACTURING’ and ‘NANOPILOT’ will establish pilot lines to scale-up the production of novel nanopharmaceuticals from the lab-scale to the quantities needed for clinical testing.

The ENATRANS project (Enabling NAnomedicine TRANSlation) will ensure the global coherence of the Translation Hub and build a functioning supply chain of nanomedicine projects mainly ran by SMEs and ready to meet industrial and clinical needs. A Translational Advisory Board (TAB) will serve as the cornerstone to provide specific advice, guidance and recommendations to all nanomedicine actors dealing with translation issues and in need of assistance in specific areas of expertise.

Coordinator: ETPN Secretariat c/o VDI/VDE-IT (DE)

Consortium: Nanobiotix (FR), CEA-Leti (FR), Bioanalytik Muenster e.V. (DE), Tel-Aviv University (IL), Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS (IT), and TecMinho (PT).

Duration: 3 years – Budget: € 2 Mio.

The NanoFacturing project has two principal objectives. Firstly to scale up an existing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) pilot line to a medium scale sustainable manufacturing process for solid core nanopharmaceuticals with a primary focus on glycan-coated gold nanoparticles. The process will also support consortium partners’ clinical programs such as IFOM’s antiviral Dengue fever NP and other EU-wide nanomedicine programs. Secondly to create a large scale process platform that would serve as the basis for GMP compliant industrial manufacture and that will be available as a model for other European companies wishing to develop their own products.

Coordinator: Midatech Biogune (ES)

Consortium: Centre for Process Innovation Limited (UK), Prochimia Surfaces SP.Z.O.O (PL), Galchimia S.A (ES), the University College Dublin and the National University of Ireland (IE), Applus S.A. LGAI Technological Center, S.A (ES), IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare (IT), and Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (CH).

Duration: 4 years – Budget: € 8 Mio.

The NanoPilot project will build a pilot line for the production of polymer based nanopharmaceuticals in compliance with GMP. The size of the plant aims to be very small, with three systems to be produced at the end of the project. Continuous flow microreactors will be employed for two of the nanopharmaceuticals to be manufactured.

Coordinator: CIDETEC Research Centre (ES)

Consortium : A Research Institute – UT2A-ADERA (FR); two Universities – National University of Ireland, Galway (IE) and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (ES) ; two industries – Sylentis (ES) and Chemtrix (NL) ; and three SMEs – iX-Factory (DE), Mejoran (ES) and Spinverse (FI).

Duration: 4 years – Budget: € 6, 28 Mio.

This announcement has taken place at the ETPN Annual Event 2014 that is being celebrated in San Sebastian (Spain) from October 15th to 16th, kindly co-organised by the nanoBasque Agency (SPRI) and hosted by CIC nanoGUNE, the Basque nanoscience cooperative research centre.

Patrick Boisseau, chairman of the ETPN, has added:

“We are very proud to announce such important news during the ETPN Annual Event 2014. The success of the EU calls – 18 proposals have been received for pilot lines for upscaling the manufacturing of nanopharmaceuticals – shows the adequacy of ETPN recommendations with real SMEs needs. We also look forward for the perspectives on a nano-characterisation infrastructure, another major pillar of the Translation Hub asked by European nanomedicine actors. The ETPN is excited to work hand in hand with the different coordinators for a global coherence of actions and a more efficient European value chain in nanomedicine.”

About ETPN ‐ www.etp‐nanomedicine.eu

The European Technology Platform Nanomedicine was established in 2005 as a joint initiative of the European Commission and CEOs of large industrial companies, SMEs and academic research institutions to investigate and advance joint activities in the area of nanotechnology in medicine. Since 2005 the ETPN published a number of strategic documents, roadmaps and structural requirements for an efficient translation of R&D results into innovative nanomedicine. The ETPN supports its members in coordinating their joint research efforts and improving communication amongst the members as well as towards the European Commission and the European Member States.

ETPN Secretariat – ENATRANS Coordinator

Nicolas Gouze

Head of Secretariat

nicolas.gouze@vdivde-it.de

About Midatech – http://midatechgroup.com/

Midatech is a world leader in the design, synthesis and manufacture of biocompatible gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with a core focus on therapeutics for diabetes and cancer. The Company is also exploring the use of GNPs in other healthcare applications including vaccines, diagnostics and medical imaging.

Midatech – NanoFacturing Coordinator

Justin Barry

CEO Midatech Biogune S.L.

barry@midatech.eu

About CIDETEC – cidetec.es

CIDETEC is specialised in generating and transferring knowledge and technology in the areas of materials, surfaces and energy. NanoPilot will be coordinated by the CIDETEC Biomaterials Unit specialised in the synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials (polymer nanoparticles, colloids, hydrogels and bioactive surfaces).

CIDETEC – NanoPilot Coordinator

Dr. Iraida Loinaz

Head of Biomaterials Unit

iloinaz@cidetec.es