Epitan partners with pSivida in tanning drug project

A safe tan in a single injection is the aim of a new collaborative agreement between two Australian biotechnology companies.

EpiTan (ASX:EPT) has contracted pSivida (ASX:PSD) to apply its BioSilicon nanotechnology to the development of a specialised slow-release formulation of the Melanotan tanning drug.

The Melbourne based tanning drug company has already developed a sustained release implantable polymer pellet, which is to enter human clinical trials in Queensland in November.

Under the latest arrangement, pSivida has agreed to develop a prototype for a second generation form of the medication, which would give consumers a range of administration options.

EpiTan would not disclose the value of the contract but said that, if the development was successful, pSiMedica would receive payments through the supply of their materials as well as royalty payments.

The research is to be funded by EpiTan with technical assistance and BioSilicon materials supplied by pSiMedica's operating subsidiary in the United Kingdom, pSiMedica.

EpiTan's pharmaceutical and new business development manager Michael Kleinig said the deal was an outstanding opportunity to combine Melanotan with nanotechnology.

"We aim to use pSivida's nanotechnology to load up microscopic porous particles, which have a honeycomb structure, with Melanotan," Kleinig said. "After injecting perhaps as little as one millilitre of this solution into the body the drug would be released into the body over 20 to 30 days."

He said initial proof-of-concept studies were expected to be completed by the end of the year.

In order to work effectively, Melanotan requires the equivalent of up to six injections a day -- not a very enticing proposition, even for the most diehard of tanning aficionados.

A more viable option is obviously a sustained-release medication that delivers the active compound over several weeks.

Managing director of pSivida Gavin Rezos said BioSilicon was an ideal drug delivery vehicle for Melanotan.

"BioSilicon provides significant control over the timing of drug release, which can be altered from hours, days, weeks and months by simply adjusting the porosity," Rezos said.

"Importantly BioSilicon is biodegradable and dissolves to produce silicic acid, the natural form of silicon, which is found in everyday foodstuffs."

Rezos said pSivida's work with EpiTan in evaluating its melanin producing compounds was another step towards the commercialisation of BioSilicon as a drug delivery system.

Despite EpiTan owning the exclusive world rights to develop Melanotan, the company said it was important to ensure it had all possible delivery formulations covered in order to protect the product.

Managing director Dr Wayne Millen said the collaboration was part of his company's forward-looking strategy.

"As this product would be a liquid-based sustained release delivered via a single dose, it would give consumers further choice as to how they could have Melanotan administered," Millen said.

"They could now conceivably have the choice of an implant, a liquid injection or a topical application."

At the time of writing EpiTan's stock had leapt 20.4 per cent to 56 cents on trade of almost 3 million shares, while pSivida was almost 2 per cent higher at 52 cents.