It’s In The “delivery.” The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem Leads In Drug Delivery

World-renowned researchers, world-class facilities, and the close cooperation with Israel’s leading pharmaceutical companies and hospitals give the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Technology Transfer University, an edge in the development of innovative drug delivery solutions.

Novel drug delivery solutions come about as the result of research into many different Technology Transfer Services areas and fields, including liposomes, polymers, controlled release and encapsulation technologies, and microparticulate and nanoparticulate targeting systems. At the Hebrew University, research into groundbreaking drug delivery systems is underway by some of the world’s acknowledged experts in a number of different fields.

In the School of Pharmacy

• Professor Abraham Domb is an expert in degradable polymers, nanoparticles, and biomaterials

• Professor Elka Touitou leads research in the enhanced delivery of peptides and other drugs through biological membranes

• Professor Simon Benita is a specialist in microparticulate and nanoparticulate targetable drug delivery systems.

At the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry

• Professor Shlomo Magdassi is an expert in formulation chemistry, nanotechnology, surfactants, dispersion systems, microparticles, and microcapsules.

In the Department of Organic Chemistry

• Professor Chaim Gilon specializes in medicinal chemistry and synthetic chemistry

And at the Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences

• Professor Amos Nussinovitch specializes in the theoretical and practical aspects of hydrocolloids, including: coating of cells, hydrocolloid glues, hydrocolloid cellular solids and water-soluble polymer uses.

Drug Delivery Successes

The Hebrew University has achieved several significant successes in this truly cutting-edge field.

• Doxil (Doxorubicin HCI liposome injection), Alza’s lead product for oncology, was developed by Professor Yechezkel Barenholz of the Faculty of Medicine. It resulted in $375 million in sales in 2006.

• Professor Barenholz also co-founded NasVax Ltd. to develop intranasal delivery systems based on platform technology developed together with Professor Eli Kedar of the Hadassah Medical School. The company’s intranasal delivery system for the influenza vaccine sped from bench to clinical trials in less than 18 months. Within one year of operations, NasVax completed two private investment rounds and had a successful IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). The company is traded under the symbol NSVX.

• Novagali Ltd. was founded to develop solutions for ophthalmology. Based on technology developed by Professor Simon Benita, Novagali’s pipeline includes major products at various stages of development for dry eye, allergy, glaucoma, retinopathies, and more. To date, Novagali has succeeded in raising €44 million in investment funding.

Outstanding New Technologies

Among the drug delivery technologies Yissum has available for Technology Transfer Opportunities and commercialization are

• A method for preparing non-toxic, biodegradable polymers that can be designed to exhibit pre-determined characteristics and functionality

• A delivery carrier and new combination of FDA-approved drugs for intranasal drug delivery

• A sustained release delivery system for antioxidants

• Highly adhesive patches derived from a tree gum exudate for transdermal and topical drug delivery

• A simple, flexible encapsulation method for loading liposomes with biologically active materials

Yissum is the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Over the past 40 years, Yissum has granted more than 400 technology licenses and is responsible for commercializing successful products that generate nearly $1 billion in worldwide sales every year.