Alexandra Teleki and AstraZeneca ally against inflammatory bowel disease
Armed with a unique nanoparticle and support from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, scientists at Uppsala University and AstraZeneca are developing new tools to combat inflammatory bowel disease. “Our ambition is to enable a milder, orally administered treatment," says Alexandra Teleki, Professor of Advanced Drug Delivery.
Inflammatory bowel disease is one of Sweden’s fastest growing chronic conditions. It primarily affects young adults and is today defined as a widespread disease with a major impact on patients and society. The Faculty of Pharmacy and AstraZeneca now join forces in a research project to provide healthcare with new and important tools.
Progress underway at TelekiLab
“This is a complex disease where courses vary between individuals, in turn complicating both research and care. We are pursuing an alternative approach in which we use a specially designed nanoparticle to deliver the drug directly to the inflamed tissue. Ultimately, our ambition is to pave the way for a milder, orally administered treatment,” says Alexandra Teleki, Professor of Advanced Drug Delivery.
The work is supported by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research which, through a programme aimed at promoting excellent research and collaboration between academia and industry, has enabled the recruitment of PhD student Hanna Lavén, who today divides her time between Uppsala’s Biomedical Centre and AstraZeneca.
“As a junior researcher, having access to both academic and industry perspectives is invaluable. In addition to my supervisors complementing each other seamlessly, this ensures that our progress remains relevant to science, industry, and not least a patient group in need of new treatment options,” says Hanna Lavén.
In parallel, the MAGNETO project is nearing the finish line. Here, Alexandra Teleki, funded by the European Research Council, leads the development of the nanoparticle that forms the core of the work. Results are promising, and with support from the Erling Persson Foundation, the next step is now underway with a focus on diagnostics.
“I can only confirm that research is moving our way. Within SweDeliver, we have already developed the in vitro models needed to advance our work, further strengthening our ability to shape the holistic solution for diagnosis and treatment required to combat inflammatory bowel disease,” says Alexandra Teleki.
Facts
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases have long been a challenge in Europe and North America and are now spreading across Asia.
- Every fourth patient develops the disease as a child, and currently, sampling of biopsies under anesthesia is required to identify where in the gastrointestinal tract the inflammation is located and how active it is. Thereafter, healthcare can at best adapt the treatment to reduce the inflammation.
Contact
Alexandra Teleki, Professor
Department of Pharmacy
alexandra.teleki@farmaci.uu.se
text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt