Drug delivery problem-solver Phaeton Research (www.phaetonresearch.com), based in Nottingham, UK, has announced the appointment of Dr Shohré Nabahi as its new Operations Director.

The company, re-launched during the Summer of 2003, is part of Prophilian Group, which also includes niche Phase I/IIa CRO Pharmaceutical Profiles (www.pharmprofiles.com), specialises in developing innovative solutions for difficult molecules via customised advanced drug delivery technologies. Shohré will be responsible for providing direction to Phaeton’s Pharmaceutical R&D group which is involved in developing products from concept to utilisation in Phase I clinical studies. She will also be promoting the involvement of Phaeton Research in developing future drug delivery technologies which will be appropriate for a range of global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with 'problem' molecules and would secure the company valuable Intellectual Property.

Phaeton Research owns the Intellectual Property Rights to the Enterion™ drug delivery capsule, being used extensively by Pharmaceutical Profiles during human drug absorption studies, but is now planning on a major recruitment drive to focus on opportunities in the market to offer both 'off the shelf' drug development solutions and a problem-solving service to solve delivery issues with difficult candidate molecules.

Shohré brings a wealth of expertise to the young company, including experience in directing teams responsible for formulating pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products from design to market, an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences and experience in regulatory processes. She has also had a number of patents published in drug delivery and improved solubility of active molecules.

She joins Phaeton Research from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), an Executive Agency of the UK Department of Health. Before that she held senior development positions with Hoechst Marion Roussel (Swindon, UK) and was Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences with PowderJect Technologies (Oxford, UK).

Looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead, Shohré explained: "What is very exciting is that we have a great group of people and a company which is still in its early stages of growth. We are already involved in some very exciting internal and external client projects that are at the cutting edge of scientific research.

"In the past, the major pharmaceutical players would simply purchase small biotech companies with what seemed a great product or idea. Today, they are waiting much longer to see if that great idea can actually become a reality. Does it have a workable drug delivery technology, for example? This is where Phaeton Research can fit in to the equation, and we believe there are a massive number of opportunities out there."

Phaeton Research believes there are a number of existing compounds that will work better with the appropriate new drug delivery technology to provide once-a-day-dosing, even where significant obstacles exist, such as the need for gastroretention. It hopes to complement this work with existing projects from sister company Pharmaceutical Profiles (Nottingham, UK) to provide a 'turn key' solution for clients, and continue with its own research into new drug development technologies.

ends

For further information, please contact:

Richard Gee +44 115 950 8399 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or www.phaetonresearch.com