Biocon India announced a three-way research collaboration with the Hannah Research Institute of Scotland and its spin out company, FFAST Solutions Limited for the development of an oral insulin based on Hannah's proprietary platform technology.

The partners will take this development all the way from a "Proof of Concept" stage to Human Clinical Trials initially in India and then to other regions of the world.

FFAST Solutions is a spin off venture from Hannah Research Institute in Ayrshire, Scotland, and is founded on a proprietary protein stabilization technology that amongst other applications provides protection for bio-active proteins in the digestive tract. Biocon and Hannah through FFAST are keen to apply this technology to develop oral insulin as it has demonstrated impressive stability under simulated gastric conditions.

Professor Donald Muir, one of the inventors of the technology says, " What started as a technology for the processed food industry is now proving to be a powerful technology to address pharmaceutical challenges. We are delighted to find a partner like Biocon who have all the necessary skills to help us make oral insulin a commercial reality. "

According to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon India Group the timing could not have been better. "We are really excited with the opportunity of working with the Hannah Research Institute and FFAST Solutions to link their platform technology with our human insulin, a combination which clearly has the potential of developing a successful oral insulin formulation. Oral insulin is no longer a far fetched concept and we look forward to sharing authorship with Hannah and FFAST solutions for an innovative insulin that will transform diabetic treatment regimes in a revolutionary way," she added.

GlaxoSmithKline in collaboration with another drug delivery company, Nobex Corporation is already conducting Phase II clinical trials for an oral insulin based on a mono-conjugated Human Insulin, which has revealed promising data with respect to both Type I & II diabetes mellitus. The Biocon-Hannah-FFAST formulation will likewise be developed for both forms of diabetes, informed Shaw.