A new technology being developed in Scotland could transform the treatment of many diseases by enabling protein medicines that currently need to be injected, to be taken with an inhaler. Recognising the importance of this breakthrough, Dr Marie Claire Parker of XstalBio Ltd, a University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde spin-out company, is to be presented tomorrow with the nation's top award for innovation - the Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

Entitled "Protein-coated Microcrystal (PCMC) Technology", Dr Parker's new process can attach proteins such as insulin to crystals that are so tiny (between one and five thousandth of a millimetre) that they can be inhaled, allowing the drug to enter the body via the lung. Whilst it must be emphasised that the technology is still to be clinically-tested, it could enable some people with certain types of diabetes, to avoid inconvenient, painful injections by taking their medicine with an inhaler. This technology is therefore likely to increase the consistency of the medicine being taken and so improve control of blood-sugar levels. Protein and peptide drugs, so called biopharmaceuticals normally have to be injected because in pill form they are destroyed in the gut by the body's own naturally-occurring acids. There are believed to be over 200,000 people in Scotland with diabetes and numbers are predicted to increase dramatically1*. The World Health Organization states that at least 171 million people worldwide have diabetes and estimates that this figure is likely to more than double by 2030 to reach 366 million2*.

PCMC Technology has the potential to create a new generation of therapeutic drugs and therapeutic vaccines that would significantly improve the treatment of chronic and acute diseases in Scotland and around the World. Because the crystals engineered by Dr Parker are stable at temperatures as high as 40 degrees centigrade, the technology could be of particular benefit to people in countries where refrigeration of medicines is difficult. XstalBio Ltd recently signed a licensing agreement with Europe's largest manufacturer of therapeutic proteins, Boehringer Ingelheim. One outcome of this agreement will be the construction of a GMP manufacturing plant capable of producing large quantities of sterile PCMC suitable for clinical trials The company has also entered into a collaboration with Avecia to develop vaccines that can be used to combat bioterrorism. Dr Parker has so far focused on healthcare and in particular formulation and drug-delivery but the innovation also has applications in a wide range of other areas, including diagnostics and cosmetics.

The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has been created to encourage and reward Scotland's young innovators for work which benefits Scotland's wellbeing. This coveted title, which also carries a cheque for £50, 000 and a specially commissioned gold medal, will be bestowed upon Dr Parker by the President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Sir Michael Atiyah on Friday 27th October. Dr Parker plans to use the £50, 000 award to help develop the manufacturing process of stable, cost-effective vaccines and the advancement of a high quality biotechnology manufacturing company in Scotland, boosting our economy.

Reacting to the announcement, Dr Parker said: 'I am delighted and exceptionally honoured to receive what is a highly prestigious award; The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for 2006. The award will provide a wonderful mark of recognition for the PCMC Technology, both for myself and XstalBio, not only in Scotland but also globally. With this award we intend to develop our manufacturing process further for the cost effective and efficient production of stabilised vaccines and to continue to market the technology globally.'

RSE President, Sir Michael Atiyah said: 'This innovation has the potential to transform the treatment of many diseases. If clinical trials prove successful, this technology could improve the quality of life of many and save countless lives by enabling vaccines to be provided in countries where refrigeration is difficult. I am delighted that, as a result of the Gannochy Trust's generous support, we are able to recognise Dr Parker's achievement. I offer my congratulations to Dr Parker and commend her ingenuity, dedication and hard work.'

The Gannochy Trust's Chairman, Dr Russell Leather said: 'The Gannochy Trust recognises the enormous potential of Dr Parker's innovation to offer very significant healthcare benefits to people in Scotland and abroad. I am delighted that we can support and encourage the best of our young innovators through this partnership with the RSE. I wish Dr Parker and her colleagues every success in transforming their technology into life enhancing and life saving medicines.'

1*Source: Diabetes in Scotland (NHS Scotland)
2*Source: http://www.who.int/diabetes/en/

Kate Richardson (K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

1. Biographical Details ~ Dr Marie Claire Parker
Dr Parker was born in Glasgow and obtained a BSc.and Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde. She worked as a Post-doctoral Fellow in Nottingham and La Rochelle, France before returning to take up a prestigious BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellowship, based initially in The University of Edinburgh and subsequently at The University of Glasgow. Here, Dr Parker began the work on protein coated microcrystals in collaboration with Dr Barry D. Moore from University of Strathclyde leading to an initial patent filing in 1999. A Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Award was obtained to develop the technology and this was followed by the award of an RSE/Scottish Enterprise Enterprise Fellowship to Dr Parker to commercialise the innovation. A spin-out company, XstalBio Ltd, was incorporated in 2002 and patents put in place to cover the pharmaceutical applications of PCMC. The company obtained an exclusive license to the technology from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow in 2004. Dr Parker is currently full-time CEO of XstalBio (www.xstalbio.com) and is aiming to develop it into an internationally leading company in the formulation and delivery of biopharmaceuticals.. XstalBio received a SMART Award in 2005 to support development of a novel continuous manufacturing process.

2. The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland?s highest accolade for individual achievement in innovation and has been being created to encourage and reward Scotland?s young innovators for work which benefits Scotland?s wellbeing. The award is presented annually to a young innovator whose work has potential to promote social and economic well-being.

3. Photographs
A j.pg is now available of Dr Parker from the RSE upon request. A number of J.pgs will be available from Photographer, Gary Doak from the evening of 27 October 2006 (mob: 07836 255 728). Images available: Presentation Ceremony; Individual Head and shoulder shots of The Winner; The President of the RSE, Sir Michael Atiyah; The Chairman of The Gannochy Trust, Dr Russell Leather.

4. Video Footage
Beta copies of video featuring the winner, Dr Parker, explaining her work and its importance, are available from Stuart Brown at The Royal Society of Edinburgh (contacts below).

Media Contact:
Stuart Brown (RSE): 077 11 710 249

First published: 26 October 2006