OBJ heads north for transdermal vaccines

Perth-based drug delivery company OBJ has established a new subsidiary to explore transdermal vaccine development.

Immunologist Professor Ian Frazer has been appointed to the new company's scientific advisory board and pathologist Dr Ken Donald has been appointed chairman.

Dr Gil Shearer, a dentist who is currently involved in teaching endodontics at the University of Queensland, has been appointed as a director and CEO of the new company, OBJ Transdermal Vaccines (OBJTV), which will be based in Queensland.

The OBJTV vaccine program is an early-stage project focused on developing an effective transdermal delivery system for vaccines using the OBJ electromagnetic technology platforms.

OBJTV plans to develop the vaccine project to preclinical proof-of-concept stage before seeking a partner for clinical development and commercialisation of transdermal vaccines using the OBJ technology.

OBJ has two active transdermal technologies that is says are able to control molecular movement and dermal permeability without disrupting the skin barrier. These are iontophoresis, which uses low level electric current to transport charged hydrophilic drugs through the skin, and dermaportation, which uses low-energy electromagnetic fields to direct drug movement and enhance transdermal delivery of a broad range of small and large, and both lipophilic and hydrophilic, drugs.

The vaccine development program has been established following recent successes for the company's pilot animal vaccine study and positive results for transdermal delivery of therapeutic peptides in a skin diffusion study conducted by Curtin University in WA, the company said in a statement.

It is currently researching transdermal delivery of therapies such as hydrocortisone, for a range of pathologies like inflammation and allergy; naltrexone for treatment of addictions; and transdermal photosensitisers, such as 5-ALA, for treating skin cancer.

It is also testing transdermal delivery of Glanvac, a standard veterinary vaccine, as well as some cosmetic applications for humans.