Gdańsk: Scientists have developed a new formulation of the symptoms of … – Market Zrdowia

The preparation for herpes based on newly invented compound called cystapep developed chemists from the University of Gdansk. Tests show that the substance is more effective than currently available on the market. The preparation may enter the sales for the year.

The project involved a group of scientists from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Gdańsk and the Swedish company ZULA Diagnostics AB. Poles are responsible for developing a new drug composition and partly to test its effectiveness, while the Swedes occupied primarily research and formalities connected with the admission and the introduction of the measure to use on the market.

The active ingredient in the formulation will be a particular compound formed as a result of significant modifications of the human cystatin C protein.

One of the inventors of a new compound called cystapep is prof. Francis Kasprzykowski UG – In this compound, which turned out to have very strong antibacterial and anti-virus, accidentally came across in the course of research on cystatin C in the laboratory of Professor Anders Grubb from the University of Lund.

Herpes cause certain types of viruses. Most drugs used today for this disease is based on the antiviral properties of a compound having the chemical name acyclovir. Cystapep proved to be effective from him. Already in the laboratory when the same strain is given acyclovir and cystapep, the latter relationship coped with the virus two and a half times better: fighting the virus at a lower concentration.

As the researchers explain, the preparation works too very well in the test, which lend him herpes sufferers. Preparation – in the form of a hydrogel, in which it is to be placed on the market, is tested at the moment about 100 volunteers: Swedes and Poles.

The work on the new formulation began in 2008 and carried out in the framework of the international project EUREKA . Polish scientists to conduct research received about 860 thousand from the National Research and Development Centre, while the Swedes acquired from the twin institutions in their country an amount corresponding to about 1.3 million zł.