Emerging Technologies within the Healthcare Supply Chain

by Kevin Bailey, Innovation Funding Consultant

Recent innovation by SMEs and academia has led to several exciting developments with implications to the healthcare technology supply chain.

Advances in drug screening and discovery, drug delivery methods and drug isolation and purification continue to drive the healthcare industry forward, opening up new possibilities for improved products.

Improved drug delivery mechanisms

Self-assembled nanoparticles engineered from biocompatible polymers and incorporating hydrophobic drugs and peptides provide a protective molecular envelope that enables drug molecules to be delivered through biological barriers, such as cell membranes, to target specific areas of pathology. This improved drug delivery mechanism has been used to deliver drugs across the blood brain barrier, delivering neuropeptides through both intravenous and oral routes and can provide a solution to new chemical entities that have failed due to their delivery challenges.

Genetically engineered fruit flies

Novel research into the treatment of Parkinson’s disease has led to the development of new in vivo drug screening procedures using genetically engineered fruit flies. This fast, economical and scalable screening protocol exploits similarities in the molecular mechanism by which the nerve cells act in flies and man and is based on evidence that fruit flies develops symptoms of Parkinson’s disease when challenged by the expression of certain human proteins in its brain. This procedure has enabled the screening of greater libraries of drugs than ever before in a living organism, accelerating the drug discovery process.

Improving the performance of medicines

Development within supercritical fluid technologies has led to improvements in the performance of medicines through the ability to crystallise drug molecules in new forms, or to manufacture molecules in ways that enhance their therapeutic performance. Using a supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide, either as a solvent or anti-solvent under super-critical fluid conditions of temperature and pressure, can lead to new polymorphs of pharmaceutical materials. This can result in benefits such as improved solubility and improved route of drug delivery, for example the development of an inhalable drug to treat a respiratory condition.

Invest in your business with R&D tax relief

Healthcare technology is a vital part of the UK economy, and with so many small and medium firms contributing throughout the supply chain, across a variety of industries, it’s vital that they receive as much financial support as possible.

The Government's R&D tax relief is one of the biggest funding sources for innovative UK companies, but with hundreds of pages of guidance to wade through and almost as many pitfalls to avoid, it can be tough to go it alone. Involving specialist advisors such as ABGI UK for your claim means that your claim will be more efficient. You will benefit from the specialist’s tried and tested template and receive support from their team to guide you through any questions as you compile the claim.

With support from specialist advisors you will be able to
• demonstrate which of your activities qualify under the scheme,
• receive a funding stream for further research and development projects and
• develop an understanding of how to make best use of the scheme as you progress.

ABGI UK is a leading R&D tax relief specialist, guiding companies through the complexities of submitting claims to HMRC.

For a free R&D tax credit consultation and analysis of the potential returns you might expect, contact us on 0203 984 0321 or talk to us on live chat.