Sigmoid Refines Commercial Strategy, Expands Management Team Ahead of Bio 2008
focus on new collaborations with partners seeking enhanced oral drug delivery
Dublin, 9th June 2008. Sigmoid Pharma Limited, the Dublin-based start-up whose oral delivery technology increases drug solubility, enhances permeability and permits controlled release in a single minicapsule system, today announced that it has appointed Oliver Boucher as Chief Business Officer. Mr Boucher was previously Vice-President, Commercial Development at Trigen, the European cardiovascular drug development specialist, and before that spent 7 years in senior business development positions at GSK.
The company, which recently changed its name to Sigmoid Pharma (previously Sigmoid Technologies) to reflect the advancement of its proprietary drug development pipeline, is also collaborating with specialist pharmaceutical companies whose drugs can be made to perform significantly better when formulated using Sigmoid’s technology. Sigmoid has its own GMP formulation facilities approved by the Irish Medicines Board.
Ivan Coulter, CEO of Sigmoid Pharma, said “With the IMB licence in hand, Sigmoid is poised to initiate a broader set of relationships with companies interested in our technology both in relation to our in-house pipeline and increasingly now in collaboration with parties seeking life cycle management solutions. I am delighted that we have been able to attract to Sigmoid someone of Oliver’s calibre and we are looking forward to his leadership of our partnering and other business relationships.
In clincial proof-of-concept studies, Sigmoid’s LEDDS (liquid/emulsion drug delivery system) has shown particular promise in enhancing the bioavailability of lipophilic pharmaceuticals. The technology permits rapid “IV-like” absorption of active principles alongside higher levels of bioavailability and can be combined with controlled-release capabilities to generate tailor-made drug delivery profiles. These benefits, believed to be available for the first time in a unitary system, also allow patent life to be significantly extended.
Oliver Boucher, Sigmoid Pharma’s most recent high level recruit, stated “I am convinced that Sigmoid’s LEDDS platform will prove extremely attractive to those companies not already familiar with its benefits. In particular, Sigmoid’s in-house formulation capabilities allow for very rapid development, testing and release cycles which imply attractive potential returns on investment. Dr Coulter and I are looking forward to meeting a range of potential new collaborators at the annual Bio International Convention next week in San Diego.”
In San Diego, Sigmoid Pharma will be affiliated with Enterprise Ireland whose stand on the Convention floor will provide a contact point for individuals wishing to meet the company’s management. Sigmoid will also be participating in the Convention’s Business Forum for specific partnering discussions.
Sigmoid Pharmaceuticals
The Invent Centre
Dublin City University
Dublin 9
Ireland
tel +353 1 700 7511
email info@sigmoidpharma.com
website http://www.sigmoidpharma.com