Two startup companies have been launched at Mercer University to commercialize promising new drug delivery systems developed in the labs of University research scientists.
 
SynPloid LLC, formed by Dr. Edward Perkins and Dr. Amy Greene, associate professor and assistant professor, respectively, in the Mercer School of Medicine, is focused on bioengineering solutions for complex biological problems using a synthetic chromosome system. One application of this new system allows for delivery of genetic material, including multiple encoded chemotherapeutic agents, in a targeted manner to directly attack tumor cells while not harming healthy normal tissue. Dr. Perkins’ lab is currently focused on applying this new gene/drug delivery technology in treatment of certain forms of breast cancer as well as orphan genetic diseases.
 
Dr. Perkins’ research program is currently funded by two grants from the National Institutes of Health and a Department of Defense Advance Research Program Award. The DARPA award represents a collaborative partnership to develop further new applications for the synthetic chromosome gene/drug delivery system.
 
The Perkins research program has completed a Phase I DARPA award, which provided proof of concept for engineering of multiple, large genetic payloads onto the synthetic chromosome. It is now in the Phase II DARPA process, which provides funding for the company startup, expansion of the gene/drug delivery system applications and development of commercialization strategies.
 
DD Therapeutics, formed by Dr. Kevin Murnane, associate professor and vice chair of pharmacy practice, and Dr. Ajay Banga, professor, chair of pharmaceutical sciences and co-director of the Center for Drug Delivery Research in Mercer’s College of Pharmacy, is developing new transdermal and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems that will provide more stable and sustained dosing with less fluctuations and variability in dosing and improved drug delivery at therapeutic levels in the central nervous system.  
 
Potential therapeutic applications include improved treatment in a variety of neurological diseases such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance abuse, substance dependence, narcolepsy and appetite suppression.  
 
Patent applications for these new drug delivery technologies have been filed, and DD Therapeutics has been formed as a startup company focused on development and commercialization of these technologies. DD Therapeutics is in the process of submitting a Georgia Research Alliance Ventures Phase One proposal and is also pursuing grant applications with the National Institutes of Health, including Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards.
 
In another business development to come out of Mercer research labs, the University has entered into a licensing agreement with Kiromic Inc., a biotechnology company based in Houston, Texas. The licensing agreement is centered on the patented drug delivery technologies developed in the research lab of Dr. Martin D’Souza, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and co-director of the Center for Drug Delivery Research in the College of Pharmacy.
 
Dr. D’Souza has developed a novel biodegradable nanoparticle oral drug delivery system. These encapsulated drug delivery microspheres are at a nanometer size scale that allows for improved access to tumor cells and cells of the immune system. The microspheres contain drugs that serve as potential cancer vaccines to stimulate a patient’s own immune system to recognize developing cancers as foreign molecules, much like it would to an invading bacterial or viral infection. In this case, the immune system would eradicate the presence of these cancer cells before they have a chance to grow into tumors.