Public Funding for Sagentia Limited

Nearly 1 in 4 breast cancer patients in the UK will require re-operation after surgery. The consequences, in addition to repeat operations, include delayed adjuvant treatment, increased likelihood of distant recurrence, poorer cosmetic outcomes, emotional distress, and enormous financial cost to the NHS. Breast cancer requires re-operation so frequently after surgery primarily due to incomplete excision of the tumour. Surgeons are unable to completely remove the cancerous tissue because the only tools surgeons have to detect cancer during surgery are visual and tactile assessment. Consequently, there is a tremendous medical need for improved tools to detect cancer during surgery. In this project, the consortium will explore the feasibility of a novel molecular imaging technology for analysing surgical specimens in real time during surgery. The technology is based on Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI), a groundbreaking imaging modality that can perform optical imaging of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging agents. The consortium consists of an interdisciplinary team of engineer-entrepreneurs, medical device developers, biologists, and oncology surgeons. The project will evaluate the feasibility of the technology before embarking on full-scale prototype development and clinical testing.

Project PPAG (Photovolatic Architectural Glass) aims to develop a working prototype/demonstrator of a scaled up OPV glazing module, which meets defined market application performance & specification requirements. The project aims to deliver a proof of technical feasibility both at laboratory scale & for large area module application, & evaluate electrical conversion efficiency, durability & lifetime. Areas where the project aims to meet specific application requirements include transparency & colour neutrality; electrical efficiency; cell size; durability; & processing costs.

In order to underpin the competitiveness of the UK pharmaceutical industry, a step change improvement in manufacturing efficiency is needed. This project aims to deliver this for production of the largest proportion of dosage forms (tablets). The efficiency gains are targeted at improved manufacturing precision, improved productivity and improved mass yield, and will be deliverable at approximately 70% of the capital cost of conventional technology. In developing this capability, significant technical knowledge to be delivered which will enhance the offering of the equipment manufacturers who are part of our consortium. The project will use advanced manufacturing equipment, process measurement, control and information management to deliver the claimed benefits. Previous work has been fragmented; this project will deliver an integrated advanced manufacturing / product release data acquisition platform. It is proposed to set up and use test facilities to prove the feasibility of the required manufacturing platform, enabling the optimal design of a commercial plant capable of making saleable product. The key deliverables are (i) an optimised integration strategy, (ii) performance benchmarks, (iii) a de-risked design for a full scale integrated facility, and (iv) data to demonstrate design effectiveness to key stakeholders including regulatory agencies. The process uses continuous twin screw granulation, fluid bed drying, inline blending and tablet compression, whilst PAT instruments along with standard process parameters such as temperature, pressure and work input are used to monitor the stability and control the process Product release is focused around real time continuous process monitoring and control. It is based on an understanding of the process acquired during the experimental trials following DfM/QbD principles. A concept factory of the future will be designed for the layout and operation of continuous OSD pharmaceutical manufacture. Peripheral work to the above this project will also is deliver a POC continuous tablet coater that coats at a rate to compliment the continuous trial equipment and a continuous powder blender.