Intec pulls in $5.2M Israeli grant for Parkinson's oral candidate

Intec Pharma, maker of the Accordian Pill delivery platform, secured a $5.2 million grant from the Israeli government to support late-stage R&D for its Parkinson’s candidate, which makes use of the oral technology.

Israel-based Intec’s Accordian Pill is a gastro-retentive delivery system designed to improve the absorption of poorly soluble drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. The technology incorporates a biodegradable polymeric film folded into a regular capsule. When released, the structure unfolds into an accordion shape and can be retained in the stomach for up to 12 hours, releasing the contained drug there in a more controlled manner than by oral consumption alone.

In addition to the Parkinson’s candidate, which delivers a combination of carbidopa and levodopa to treat symptoms of the neurological disorder, Intec is also developing an insomnia candidate and one to treat ulcers in the bowel.

The funds, granted by the Israeli National Authority for Technological Innovation (NATI), will help the company move forward with a Phase III clinical trial of the Parkinson’s candidate, for which it is currently enrolling patients.

“Including today’s approved grant, NATI has granted an aggregate of approximately NIS 55.1 million ($14.4 million) of non-dilutive grants to Intec Pharma since 2009,” Intec CEO Zeev Weiss said in a statement. “This continued support of non-dilutive grants, that are repayable from royalties generated from future sales, represents a strong and ongoing vote of confidence in Intec Pharma and its goals.”

- here's the Intec release

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