Abstract: There is provided a composition comprising microspheres which comprise a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer and associated with the polymer, in releasable form, a chemotherapeutic agent, for use in the treatment of a pancreatic tumour or cyst, wherein the microspheres, when equilibrated in water at 37° C., comprise at least 40 wt % water based on weight of polymer plus water, wherein the polymer is anionically charged at pH7 and the chemotherapeutic agent is cationically charged and electrostatically associated with the polymer. Also provided are methods of treating pancreatic tumours or cysts using this composition.

Abstract: An initiator for the terminal group of the polymer product of an atom or group radical transfer polymerisation has an activated carboxyl or an amine group which is reacted with an amine or carboxyl (respectively) group containing biologically active compound. The initiator is preferably 4-(3-(2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate)phenyl)-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester or 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. The monomers preferably comprise a zwitterionic monomer such as 2-methacryloxyethyl-2?-trimethyl ammoniumethyl phosphate inner salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of biologically active compounds, preferably therapeutically active compounds, with polymeric moieties having low polydispersity, as well as controlled polymerisation processes for producing the conjugates. An initiation for a controlled radical polymerisation process comprises a biologically active, usually therapeutically active, moiety and the monomer includes zwitterionic monomer for instance 2-methacryloyloxyethyl -2?-trimethylammonium ethyl phosphate inner salt. The process allows close control of the molecular weight and polydispersity of the polymeric moiety and the possibility of optimizing the delivery characteristics of the active agent.

Abstract: The present application refers to the use of cells, e.g. mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells, or any further suitable cell, encoding and secreting GLP-1, a fragment or variant thereof or a fusion peptide comprising GLP-1 or a fragment or variant thereof, for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI or Ml), wherein the cells, encoding and secreting GLP-1, a fragment or variant thereof or a fusion peptide comprising GLP-1 or a fragment or variant thereof, are encapsulated in a (spherical) microcapsule to prevent a response of the immune system of the patient to be treated. The present application also refers to the use of these (spherical) microcapsule(s) or of a pharmaceutical composition containing these cells or (spherical) microcapsule(s) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI or Ml).

Abstract: A composition comprising microspheres of a polymer matrix, having two different pharmaceutical actives having complementary, usually synergistic, activity in killing cells. The compositions have particular utility for treating tumours. Useful combinations are doxorubicin with rapamycin, irinotecan with ibuprofen, ibuprofen with doxorubicin and irinotecan with doxorubicin. The polymer matrix is preferably a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol. The drugs may be included in the same microsphere, or microspheres each with an individual pharmaceutical agent may be mixed together. The microspheres are preferably used in chemoembolisation of tumours.

Abstract: A process is described for loading hydrophilic polymer particles with a water-insoluble solvent-soluble drug. The particles are preferably embolic agents. The method provides particles having little or no drug at the surface and in a surface layer, whereby the burst effect is minimised. The drug is precipitated in the core of the particle, leading to extended release. The drug is, for instance, paclitaxel, rapamycin, dexamethasone or ibuprofen.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for embolization of blood vessels, especially for benign tumours, comprises a polymeric embolic agent and, associated with the polymer in a releasable form, a local anaesthetic agent. The polymer is preferably in particulate form, such as in the form of microspheres. A suitable polymer Is a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol polymer formed by the copolymerization of PVA macromer with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The composition provides a synergistic treatment for the symptoms of tumours such as uterine fibrioids, leading to size regression as well as pain relief.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising vesicles and encapsulated within the vesicles, nucleic acid comprising less than 1000 nucleotides, wherein the vesicles comprise an amphiphilic block copolymer having a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic block. Methods of forming vesicles and methods of delivering nucleic acid, in particular, iRNA into cells, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a composition comprising vesicles and encapsulated within the vesicles, an antibody, wherein the vesicles comprise an amphiphilic block copolymer having a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic block. Methods of delivering the above compositions into cells are also described.

Abstract: Block copolymers comprise a core block formed of hydrophilic monomers and have pendant zwitterionic groups, and at least two terminal blocks, comprising stimulus-responsive groups. The core block has a degree of polymerisation of at least 100, whilst the terminal blocks have an average degree of polymerisation of at least 20. A solution of polymer in a liquid may be caused to change its characteristics, for instance rheology, upon being subjected to a stimulus such as a change in temperature or pH. Examples comprise core blocks formed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2?-trimethylammonium ethylphosphate inner salt (MPC) and terminal blocks formed of 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate. Upon changing the pH from around 2 to around 8, an aqueous solution of the block copolymer gels, the solution becoming mobile again upon lowering the pH. The effect is due to deprotonation of a quaternary ammonium pendant ion to form a non-ionised group and subsequent protonation to form an ionised group.

Abstract: A process is described for loading hydrophilic polymer particles with a water-insoluble solvent-soluble drug. The particles are preferably embolic agents. The method provides particles having little or no drug at the surface and in a surface layer, whereby the burst effect is minimised. The drug is precipitated in the core of the particle, leading to extended release. The drug is, for instance, paclitaxel, rapamycin, dexamethasone or ibuprofen.

Abstract: There is provided a new use of microspheres comprising a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer which is anionically charged at pH7, and electrostatically associated with the polymer, in releasable form, a cationically charged chemotherapeutic agent, in the manufacture of a composition for use in the treatment of a brain tumour, wherein in the treatment the composition is introduced into the brain and the chemotherapeutic agent is released from the microspheres, wherein the microspheres, when equilibrated in water at 37° C., comprise at least 40 wt % water based on weight of polymer plus water. Compositions comprising the microspheres and methods for the treatment of brain tumours are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a new polymerisation process in which ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerised by a living radical polymerisation process in the presence of an initiator and a catalyst. Polymers produced by this new process are also thought to be novel and may be used to derivatise biological molecules to improve their efficacy as therapeutic treatments. A preferred polymer is of formula The polymers are particularly suitable for derivatising proteins, such as interferon-?.

Abstract: A novel class of polymers obtainable by copolymerising a monomer mixture comprising (i) hydrophilic monomer of general formula (I) Y—B—X; (ii) styrene or a substituted styrene, a monomer or mixture of monomers which when polymerised form a polymer with a Tg lower than the Tg of a homopolymer of monomer (I) and lower than the Tg of a homopolymer of monomer (ii); and a monomer having a crosslinkable group is described. The invention also relates to a method for producing such polymers, implants coated with the polymers and methods for forming the same.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for loading microsphere polymer particles with crystallisable drug, in the presence of a crystallisation inhibitor whereby crystallisation of the drug is inhibited. The invention is of particular value for loading polymer beads with paclitaxel, ibuprofen and/or dexamethasone. The polymer is suitably an anionic polyvinyl alcohol polymer.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: Polymers may be made from zwitterionic monomers having controlled architectures and molecular weights, using living polymerisations such as group or atom transfer radical polymerisation. For instance polymers may be formed by atom transfer radical polymerisation using a copper chloride catalyst, a ligand which is water soluble, and a water soluble tertiary alkyl halide initiator to form homopolymers having controlled polydispersities of less than 1.5 and block copolymers with other hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomers. One suitable zwitterionic monomer is 2-methacryloyloxy-2?-trimethylammoniumethyl phosphate inner salt. The block copolymers may spontaneously form micelles, believed to have zwitterionic, for instance phosphorylcholine, groups at the external surface, which may be useful as drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing an immune response to an allergen or antigenic determinant thereof in a mammal by administering a modulator of the Notch signalling pathway.

Abstract: A silicon containing adduct having the formula (I) wherein X is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl and sulphone groups, sulphonium and phosphonium salts; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear and branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkoxyalkyl, oligoalkoxyalkyl, di-alkylaminoalkyl, N-aryl-N-alky-laminoalkyl, hydroxyalkoxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkoxy, cycloalkenyloxy, cycloalkynyloxy, aralkoxy, alkoxyaryloxy, alkoxyalkoxy, oligoalkoxyalkoxy, di-alkylaminoalkoxy, N-aryl-N-alkylamino-alkoxy, acyloxy, acyloxyalkyl, N-diacyl-iminoalkyl groups, organosilane, organosiloxane, hydroxyaryl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyalkynyl and hydroxy groups and any of the above groups substituted with one or more hydroxyl or xzwitterionic group Z, or R—X— is a nitrile group; R3 and R4 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear and branched alkyl, alkenyl,