Project to Optimise Freeze Dried Drug Dosage Form for Treating Muscle Atrophy

Using an SP Scientific LyoStar Freeze Drying System, pharmaceutical process development expert GILYOS GmbH in Wuerzburg, Germany, will participate in a research programme called FORMOsA, which was recently funded with about €2 million by the German Bavarian Research Foundation. The project focuses on age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia).

In this project, GILYOS will be actively involved in the formulation development and freeze drying process design and optimisation of follistatin for subcutaneous application. Follistatin is a messenger substance that is present in almost all types of tissue. The protein effectively inhibits myostatin, which, in turn, plays a key role in skeletal muscle atrophy. Follistatin might therefore be a promising substance for treating sarcopenia.

To optimise the freeze dried dosage form, GILYOS will use the Lyostar freeze drying system to investigate partially crystalline formulations as such mixtures allow short process times that are of great economical interest.

The SP Scientific LyoStar3 freeze dryer provides outstanding process accuracy, reliability and ease-of-use features. For applications ranging from process development for scale-up to product processing for stability studies to formulations work, the LyoStar delivers consistent results. The LyoStar features RTD-controlled shelf temperature accuracy of +/–0.5˚C or better and vacuum control within 0.1% of set-point. Its robust 5.5 hp cascade refrigeration system enables shelf pull down from ambient to –40°C in less than 25 minutes and the ultra-reliable scroll compressors feature just three moving parts. Available with ControLyo nucleation on-demand technology, the LyoStar 3 provides R&D and process development scientists with precise control over their freeze-drying processes.

Genevac Ltd, +44 1473 240000, salesinfo@genevac.co.uk, www.spscientific.com.