“The goal of the partnership is to address a large unmet need – the ability to conduct PK [pharmacokinetic] and toxicology studies with insoluble drugs,” Maureen Mattera, a spokeswoman for Particle, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
“Calvert and Particle Sciences have been working with common clients for several years and, because of this experience, we decided to formalize and streamline the task that we are most often asked to perform.”
Anthony Yousefnejad, director of marketing and sales support at Calvert, told us, “Particle Sciences will be taking the lead to develop the formulation aimed at achieving the desired tox levels, and Calvert will carry out the testing and submit the reports to the client.”
Particle specializes in nano-milling and lipidic formulation technologies while Calvert offers a GLP-compliant lab and specializes in early-stage lead identification and optimization services. Both companies’ clients will now have the ability through either Calvert or Particle Sciences “to outsource all of their preclinical needs,” Mattera added.
New developing drugs often present significant formulation issues and most will need some kind of toxicology testing to characterize in vivo exposure, Yousefnejad explained. And through this partnership, drug developers will be able to “streamline a potentially difficult barrier.”
Mattera added that so far, client feedback to their decision to join forces “has been excellent.”
Particle’s deal with Calvert represents its second announced partnership this month. China-based Crystal Pharmatech was recently selected as Particle’s partner to analyze low-solubility compounds.