Q BioMed's Technology partner Mannin Research forges research collaboration with McMaster University for Glaucoma drug MAN-01

Q BioMed Inc (OTCQB:BIO) announced Friday that its technology partner Mannin Research has struck up a collaboration with McMaster University of Ontario, Canada.

The new research partnership is focused on eye drug delivery and formulation experiments for MAN-01, the small molecule to treat primary open-angle glaucoma, which is a key drug in Q BioMed’s pipeline.

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The goal of the collaboration is also to explore new ways of delivering Mannin’s small molecules to the eye to treat glaucoma and increasing the compounds’ ability to reduce intra-ocular pressure.

Experiments will be conducted by Dr Heather Sheardown, a professor of chemical engineering at McMaster University, and an expert in drug delivery and bioengineering related to eye diseases.

“This collaboration is extremely important for us and QBioMed, as well as the MAN-01 program. The Sheardown lab at McMaster University specializes in ophthalmic delivery systems,” noted George Nikopoulos, CEO of Mannin Research in a statement.

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“As we approach our Phase 1 clinical trial, having the renowned expertise and experience of Dr. Sheardown and her team working with us on delivering our small molecule candidates to the eye is important to our success.”

Denis Corin, Q BioMed’s CEO, forecast that the ophthalmic drug delivery data from the collaboration would provide further evidence for its investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration.

“Through this collaboration, we are also exploring the use of extended and sustained release formulations with the Mannin compounds for the treatment of other vascular related diseases, such as acute kidney injury, influenza and myocardial ischemia,” Corin said in a statement.

Q BioMed’s program for MAN-01, its topical treatment (eye drop) for glaucoma is making headway. The drug reduces pressure build-up in the eye by correcting drainage problems in tiny vessels in the eye. Research also shows that the drug might work to fight vessel damage in kidney disease (MAN-02), cardiovascular disease (MAN-03) and providing a defense against infectious diseases (MAN-04) like the flu and Ebola.

Q BioMed shares closed up 2.3% to finish at $2.25 on Thursday.

Story by ProactiveInvestors