Thursday, February 3, 2011

Microchips moves osteoporosis device into clinical study

By James M. Connolly

Some 18 years after MIT professor Robert Langer first envisioned using an implantable reservoir as a drug delivery device, one of his companies, MicroCHIPS Inc. of Bedford, announced today that it is initiating a clinical study of a device that delivers a peptide over the course of months in women with osteoporosis.

The study, now being conducted in Denmark, will focus on controlled delivery of a parathyroid hormone, (PTH (1-34), from a programmable, multi-reservoir implanted system over the course of months without need for daily injections. The goal is to increase bone density in women suffering from severe osteoporosis.

“MicroCHIPS’ clinical study marks an important milestone in the comprehensive research and development of a new approach to drug delivery,” said company co-founder Langer in a press release, “MicroCHIPS’ breakthrough technologies have the ability to transform therapy in numerous disease states using active and responsive drug delivery devices.”

Langer has said that he came up with the idea of using microprocessor-based implantable delivery systems while watching a documentary on microprocessors in 1993.

Last year, MicroCHIPS named Ajit Gill as CEO and president, replacing John Santini.

MicroCHIPS was one of six Massachusetts companies recognized as Technology Pioneers in 2010 by the World Economic Forum .

Also last year, MicroCHIPS took in a $16.5 million investment. InterWest Partners of California was a new investor and was joined in the round by existing investors Polaris Venture Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, Flybridge Capital Partners, Medtronic, Saints Capital, Intersouth Partners, Care Capital and CSK Venture Capital.