The University of Sheffield

<p><strong>Overview:</strong></p>
<p>The University of Sheffield is a world top-100 university renowned for the excellence, impact and distinctiveness of its research-led learning and teaching. The University’s outstanding performance for excellent teaching and research, as part of a genuinely global community, is consistently confirmed by international independent assessments.</p>
<p>The university takes its public and social responsibility seriously. It is committed to making the world a better place. This approach is embedded in everything they do, from partnerships with local and global organisations to their research and teaching.</p>
<p><strong>Research:</strong></p>
<p>The University of Sheffield has a global reputation for world-leading research that makes a difference. It influences policy, changes lives and helps in understanding the world so that we can make it better. The university has over 180 research institutes, centres and groups. They address challenges from finding a cure for motor neurone disease to building a sustainable economic recovery. The research institutes and centres at the university have been created to address global challenges facing society, today and in the future. They are often interdisciplinary, with external collaboration and funding, and have earned international recognition.</p>
<p>The world-class research being undertaken at the University of Sheffield generates a wealth of new knowledge, much of which has the potential for licensing to innovative organisations seeking to augment their current activities or diversify their operations.</p>
<p><strong>Industry Partnerships:</strong></p>
<p>The University of Sheffield is collaborating with partners in the private, public and third sectors to find real-world solutions to real-world problems.</p>
<p>The university partners with organisations large and small, believing that by working together, we can find novel solutions to real-world problems. In their experience, it leads to world-class research and commercial success to businesses around the world. Together, The University of Sheffield shares knowledge, facilities and industry insight to help influence cultural, social, economic and political change.</p>


<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p>The inability of the adrenal glands to produce adequate levels of the vital stress hormone cortisol is described as adrenal insufficiency. This condition is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity. Most causes of adrenal insufficiency are permanent, but some causes are transient, in particular tertiary adrenal insufficiency (as a result of taking steroids for a condition such as arthritis or asthma and the commonest cause in children). In tertiary adrenal periodic diagnostic testing is required.</p>
<p>The Short Synacthen Test is the first line diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency worldwide. Requests for this test have risen in line with increased steroid usage in children and the heightened awareness by healthcare professionals of the adrenal insufficiency steroids can cause. The current test requires invasive administration (intravenous or intramuscular) of Synacthen and blood sampling. The invasive nature of the test leads to a high threshold for investigation, especially in babies and children. A non-invasive test, requiring neither highly trained staff nor a day-care admission, is therefore highly desirable.</p>
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
<p>Clinicians and researchers from the University of Sheffield and the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have developed a non-invasive test for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. This test is based on a novel liquid formulation of tetracosactide and chitosan, which is supplied in a single-use delivery system. The formulation is delivered nasally and the test utilises saliva to measure the glucocorticoid response, negating the use of needles completely.</p>
<h3 id="stage-of-development">Stage of Development</h3>
<p>Clinical trials performed to date have demonstrated that the nasal formulation, ‘Nasacthin’,  is reliably absorbed and well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic analysis have shown that the novel formulation elicits maximal adrenal stimulation and an equivalent response to the standard Short Synacthen Test at 60 minutes, with an indistinguishable glucocorticoid response in adults and children.</p>
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
<ul>
<li>Timely diagnosis in increased numbers of patients at risk</li>
<li>Reduced inadvertent harm of long-term steroid use where not required</li>
<li>Non-invasive</li>
<li>Less resource intensive</li>
<li>Reduced costs for the healthcare provider</li>
<li>Utility in the inpatient, outpatient and community settings</li>
<li>Improved overall patient experience</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="opportunity">Opportunity</h1>
<ul>
<li>Seeking co-development partner for pivotal clinical trial in adults and paediatric subjects</li>
<li>Available for exclusive and non-exclusive licensing</li>
</ul>
