Danville Scientists Develop Novel Drug Delivery

A new Danville company works to change the way some drugs are delivered to the body.

Because liquid protein-based drugs like vaccines are fragile and have a short shelf-life, scientists at Engineered BioPharmaceuticals in Danville are busy working to develop dry-powder versions of these drugs that can be stored for longer periods and are easier to transport and administer to patients.

The shift to “smarter” protein-based drugs — ones that are more similar to molecules inside the body — allowed for more effective treatments, but currently most have to be injected, as proteins would be destroyed if ingested. Patients either learn to self-inject or visit a clinician.

These biotechnology-based drugs can also be expensive, as a single dose for some cancer drugs costs $30,000, said President Carl Sahi of Engineered BioPharmaceuticals.

What “eBio” aims to do is remove the water from the liquid drugs but also encase and protect the active pharmaceutical during a freeze-dry process. Then, the dry powder would be put into inhalers, nasal devices or syringe devices that would allow for instant reconstitution, or re-dissolving into liquid for injections.

While other scientists and companies are working on these effective drug solutions, eBio believes its technology is the best, said Michelle Richter, communications coordinator. Some inhalable products are on the market today, particularly for treating asthma or lung disease.

Use of this novel drug delivery could have widespread impact from patients being able to comply more easily with health care treatments to helping vaccination campaigns in Third World countries, Sahi said.

For biodefense, dry powder storage that can be done at room temperature could help the government stockpile drugs or vaccines. This could drive down costs, too, Sahi added.

The technology could even be applied to locking in flavors for the food industry.

The firm, now with 12 employees, moved into the Dan River Business Development Center in February last year and received nearly $3 million from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology for its research and development.

eBio plans on contracting with pharmaceutical companies that want their drugs converted to dry powder form and eventually would manufacture them, creating about 100 jobs, in the Cyber Park. Sahi plans to spend three years in the small business incubator, where the team is also working on developing an aseptic (sterile) manufacturing process.

Sahi envisions each individual product being manufactured in its own module or cell. Each module would have a research and development area, a “powder characterization” area with lab equipment and then a manufacturing side.

The Cyber Park facility plans so far call for about six modules, but the site has the ability to go up to 32, Sahi said. The company also plans to announce partnerships in the near future.

For employees Jeramie Stamps and Claudia Cardona, of Danville, Engineered BioPharmaceuticals gives them an opportunity to work in a science field at home.

“Being a Danville resident most of my life, it’s important to see places like this can come to Danville,” Stamps said. “People can come back here and be a part of something bigger.”

Stamps, 27, earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry but had been teaching basic math at Danville Community College until his mentor, DCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Paul Fox, told him about eBio’s arrival. Stamps had always wanted to work in a research team.

“We’re a part of a lot of innovation here,” said Stamps, eBio quality control technician.

Cardona, a senior scientist and principal investigator who holds a doctorate in chemistry, loves the opportunity to use the latest equipment in her field. Additionally, eBio brings not only jobs but intellectual knowledge.

She hopes students studying science-related fields will have more opportunities in Danville now and in the future.

“Here in Danville. That’s amazing,” Cardona said. “ … Science jobs are not available everywhere.”