Partner Article

Drugs firm steps up malaria fight

A North East drugs development firm is stepping up its efforts against malaria, a disease which affects hundreds of millions of people every year.

Sensapharm Ltd was founded by Dr Neil Sullivan in 2005, and specialises in the development of molecular sensor technologies for use in the detection of anti-malarial drugs.

The company, located at Sunderland’s Business and Innovation Centre, recently received a £48,000 Grant for Business Investment from One North East to help purchase a new high throughput mass spectrometer, known as a triple quadrupole LCMSMS.

The LCMSMS machine has enhanced the firm’s capabilities to extract, purify and analyse the key malaria-treatment drug artemisinin.

Dr Sullivan said: “The supply of artemisinin is difficult to predict and our efforts are designed to help put stability into this market. We can do this by introducing validated analyses and assisting with the worldwide efforts associated with improving extraction and purification of this important compound.”

Grant support has also helped to secure two new full time graduate jobs, taking the team up to four.

Ken Samson, Business Finance Manager at One North East, said: “I am impressed with the cutting edge work that Dr Sullivan and his team are doing to aid the fight against malaria. One North East is proud to lend its support to Sensapharm, which acts as a testament to the region’s reputation as a hub for innovative science and technology firms.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .