Trial talks on revised Aspirin

DUBLIN:A REVISED form of Aspirin which may allow it to be used as a long-term preventative treatment for heart attacks and strokes has been developed by researchers in Trinity College Dublin

.Aspirin is effective in the prevention of certain cardiovascular diseases, but prolonged use is restricted because it can cause gastric bleeding or ulcers.

In older patients, for whom the drug has the highest potential benefits, long-term Aspirin use has been shown to triple risks of gastric ulceration.

Prolonged use has been restricted to patients for whom the risk of a heart attack outweighs the risk of ulcers.

"Aspirin toxicity is a major public concern because of the number who could benefit from it if it had a lower toxicity," says Dr John Gilmer, of TCD's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

He has researched ways of separating the drug from its side-effects for almost 10 years and his work has led to a recently patented technology that he believes offers a breakthrough.

The component that aggravates the gastrointestinal wall is carboxylic acid - required for effective functioning of the drug. By adding a component to Aspirin molecules, Dr Gilmer says he has found a way to mask its impact. "We are removing the major cause of its toxicity."

The secret to ensuring the drug works effectively is the removal of this component in the intestinal wall and in the blood stream within seconds of the substance being ingested.

An unexpected benefit is that the process results in this new compound - dubbed Safeprin by Dr Gilmer - being absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly, meaning the dosage can potentially be reduced.

Dr Gilmer is about to start talks with large pharmaceutical firms, initially Bayer and Merck (which have an existing interest in treatment of cardiovascular diseases), with a view to partnering for clinical trials.

"For most Irish firms the cost of clinical trials are just too high, so our options are to seek a partner or to license the technology to a firm that can run the trials."

The intellectual property is owned by Trinity College, and Enterprise Ireland is an investor and is assisting with the commercialisation.

Dr Gilmer is exploring other potential commercial avenues including using the compound in treating colorectal cancer.