The first biotech company to sign up to use UWE’s state-of-the-art Future Space laboratories has moved in.
University of Bristol spin-out Pertinax Pharma is developing patent-protected, sustained release technology for chlorhexidine, a common antiseptic.
Based on years of research and development from the university’s School of Oral and Dental Science, it can be used as a filler component of materials for biomedical and other applications, as a component of topical agents, and as a coating for medical devices.
A team of research scientists and commercial management will occupy a laboratory and two office units at Future Space on UWE’s Frenchay Campus.
Pertinax Pharma chief financial officer Stuart Gibson said: “We had outgrown our space in the University of Bristol but it was important for us to remain near the School of Dentistry, where were previously based.
“Moving our operation to Future Space offers us the opportunity to expand our team as we look to develop Pertinax for new applications and markets.”
Pertinax Pharma is the fourth firm to relocate to Future Space, which is being managed by Oxford Innovation.
Pertinax Pharma received first-round funding of £400,00 this summer, including £100,000 from Mercia Fund Management (MFM), a leading technology investor.
The investment round has allowed the firm to begin the development of a robust, scalable production process and tap into its initial target market – oral care and dentistry. MFM’s £200,000 was being matched by an investment by a university alumnus.
The investment came shortly after Pertinax Pharma was awarded a £489,000 grant from InnovateUK Aid for Start-ups following participation in the ICURe programme in February. The company is already garnering significant interest from several organisations in the pharmaceutical and life science sectors.
CSO Dr Michele Barbour said: “We initially developed Pertinax in my university laboratory as a microbial infection control technology for use in dental applications. We are now developing Pertinax for much broader healthcare, veterinary and dental uses.
“Pertinax confers controllably sustained antimicrobial efficacy on the material or device which, depending on the application, can be formulated to persist for weeks, months or years. In this way, Pertinax overcomes the major shortcoming of commercially available formulations of chlorhexidine, namely their short duration of antimicrobial activity.”
The company is looking to expand into different markets such as application of the product in wound care and veterinary markets.
Future Space director Elaine McKechnie said: “Pertinax Pharma was impressed by the potential that we can offer to expand the business as it grows and the working environment that we offer here.
“Pertinax Pharma is the first lab customer to join Future Space. There is a shortage of lab space in the region so we know that we are fulfilling a need here and that this will make the space attractive to a range of businesses and research projects.
“We are finding that the benefits of having wet lab and office units, social and meeting spaces and a collaborative research atmosphere are also making this an attractive offer to companies.”
Pictured: The Pertinax Pharma team
