Austin, TX, November 4, 2009 - PharmaForm, a contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization and a wholly owned subsidiary of Akela Pharma Inc. (TSX: AKL), today announced that it has added aqueous and solvent spray drying to its portfolio of bioavailability enhancement solutions. A widely used processing technology, spray drying offers a number of benefits to optimize drug formulation, including enhanced bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds, higher drug loading and predictable scale-up.
“PharmaForm’s investment in the Anhydro MicraSpray 35® is part of the company’s strategic focus and commitment to provide comprehensive solutions for poorly soluble compounds,” said Gregory M. McKee, president and chief executive officer of Akela Pharma. “Spray drying further enables us to better serve our clients by offering another proven, commercializable technology to enhance bioavailability and accelerate their drug development programs.”
In addition to the new spray drying capability, PharmaForm’s comprehensive bioavailability enhancement technologies include hot-melt extrusion, solvent-based fluid bed processing and liquid filled hard capsules.
For further information on PharmaForm’s spray drying capabilities, bioavailability enhancement technologies or drug development services, contact Marcelo Omelczuk, Ph.D. senior vice president business and product development at momelzuk@pharmaform.com, or Elizabeth Hickman at ehickman@pharmaform.com, or visit our web-site at www.PharmaForm.com.
About PharmaForm: PharmaForm, a wholly owned subsidiary of Akela Pharma Inc., is a leading specialty contract service provider in the area of pharmaceutical dosage form development and manufacturing, specializing in controlled release and bioavailability enhancement technologies, such as hot melt extrusion, liquid filled capsules, solvent-based fluid bed processing and spray drying. Through its diverse offerings, PharmaForm solutions help pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients reach their development targets, reduce development costs and accelerate time-to-market.
About Akela Pharma Inc.: Akela Pharma is a drug development company with its lead product, Fentanyl TAIFUN®, being developed for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain. Fentanyl TAIFUN is a fast-acting fentanyl formulation delivered using the company’s TAIFUN multi-dose dry powder inhaler platform. Akela’s pipeline also includes a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), which is being developed for frailty and wasting in chronic renal disease.
Akela’s common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol “AKL” with 30.9 million shares outstanding.
