Revolutionary water-based nanotechnology

Do-Coop’s Neowater solution for hydrating poorly performing drug compounds opens and widens the therapeutic window, allowing the entry of poorly soluble compounds into the intellectual properties portfolio, solving one of the major challenges the pharma industry faces. The company’s Eran Gabbai and Regina Nadborny explore the product’s benefits.

The pharma industry is facing a major challenge during the discovery and development stages. Hundreds, if not thousands, of compounds with proven activity have been stranded in development because of formulation problems. Billions of dollars have already been spent, with no possible ROI. The problem is how to formulate a hydrophobic API with as few additives and as minimal toxicity as possible without hindering biological activity.

The solubility challenge
New APIs frequently get stuck within the drug development cycle because 40–50% of all drug compounds are hydrophobic. This becomes even more critical given that there are few new APIs, forcing scientists to find different techniques to overcome the formulation barriers that not only pose health risks, but also affect profitability.

Cell-based living organisms consist of at least 70% water, a hydrophilic environment, while site receptors are composed of lipids and are hydrophobic. This equilibrium between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions is what creates the challenge of effective drug delivery and release. Understanding water Do-Coop Technologies Ltd, a private IP company based in Israel, has developed a solution for hydrating poorly performing drug compounds.

Neowater, a proprietary water-based nanotechnology, offers the potential to release these compounds back into the drug development chain. It is a natural, safe, costeffective delivery agent that can be deployed throughout the development cycle – from initial compound formulation to human ingestion. Neowater offers increased bioavailability and stability and an enhanced ability to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds. Neowater is distinguished from ordinary water by a shift in the physical and chemical properties, with a structure that is remarkably stable under extreme and standard conditions. The unique organisation of the water molecules in Neowater is derived from interaction among the water, carbon dioxide and a suspended minute amount of nanoparticles arranged in clusters. This combination provides a much greater surface area and more closely resembles naturally occurring water in biological organisms. These characteristics assist in overcoming the barriers of reintroducing hydrophobic compounds into living systems.

From toxicity to safety
Today’s toxic delivery agents affect bioavailability, metabolism of the drugs themselves, and uptake and excretion. Neowater provides a natural, non-toxic solution that can be widely deployed with minimal customisation. Formulating compounds with Neowater maintains or enhances the efficacy of compounds without the risks of toxicity – moving drugs more rapidly through the development cycle. Do-Coop has successfully formulated numerous compounds with Neowater, dramatically reducing the levels of toxic agents while maintaining or enhancing compound efficacy.

Reformulation with Neowater
Cyclosporine A is an effective immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory and antiparasitic agent widely used for dry-eye syndrome. It was successfully formulated with Neowater, replacing large concentrations of Cremophor EL, maintaining efficacy and lowering toxicity while increasing the production of natural tears. This formulation is eligible for new IP. Do-Coop is in the early stages of examining the commercialisation of the formulation with a third party.

A licensing agreement signed between Champion Biotechnology Inc and Do-Coop deals with SG410, a novel benzoyl-phenylureasulfur analogue, which was found to be efficient as an anti-pancreatic cancer drug candidate via its use as a cancer cell proliferation inhibitor. However, it could only be deployed in a highly toxic solvent, unfit for clinical trials. Formulating SG410 with Neowater maintains its in vitro efficacy and mechanism of action with sharply reduced toxicity for in vivo use.With Neowater, pharma companies can regain their investments in existing compounds, reduce time to market, enhance delivery and maintain or increase exclusive market penetration.

Company profile

Do-Coop Technologies Ltd, founded in 1997, is a private intellectual property company based in Israel, specialising in the manufacture and commercialisation of its novel and proprietary water-based nanotechnology.

For more information, visit: www.docoop.com,
or email: business@docoop.com.