The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has helped OxSonics take a big step towards developing a revolutionary generation of ultrasound devices which aim to enhance delivery of anti-cancer drugs deep into solid tumours.

OxSonics is a relatively new company which believes its cutting edge technology has the potential to deliver anti-cancer drugs to those cells that lie farthest from blood vessels.

A case study published today illustrates how the Innovation office at MHRA provided informal access to world-leading expertise. It is hoped that following clinical trials the approach will result in better health outcomes for people currently facing terminal illness.

MHRA director of licensing, Dr Siu Ping Lam said:

Our experts have the knowledge and experience to helpfully support SMEs to develop their innovative products. As well as being a regulator, we are passionate about helping companies develop products that could benefit patients and improve public health. Through the MHRA innovation office and scientific advice service, we are able to offer information and guidance to help companies, large and small, navigate scientific and regulatory requirements effectively.

The new innovation office at MHRA helped by:

• co-ordinating and facilitating an initial meeting to clarify the classification of the particles and the ultrasound hardware – this in turn ensured that OxSonics could work to the correct regulatory standards
• providing advice on the scientific and regulatory aspects of the toxicology studies in order to help OxSonics take their development forward
• offering the opportunity to hold a scientific advice meeting to review the planned pre-clinical toxicology protocols that would need to be in place in order to gain approval to start clinical investigations

Dr Colin Story, CEO, OxSonics said:

MHRA’s innovation office is an excellent resource for companies working to develop innovative technologies. The support offered by MHRA through its innovation office has been invaluable to OxSonics. The innovation office has helped us with product classification and defining pre-clinical studies and MHRA will continue to support us by providing informal access to world-leading expertise.

According to Dr Story, there are no similar devices either on the market or in development.

The case study was developed as part of our commitment to the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP). MMIP was launched by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the BioIndustry Association (BIA) earlier this year. It brings the UK’s medicines manufacturing industry together to create an attractive and innovation rich environment to drive UK competitiveness, and build international recognition in medicines manufacturing