A new national research hub, led by the University of Liverpool, will position the UK as a world leader in the emerging global field of long-acting therapeutics (LATs).
Supported with an £11 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Hub for Advanced Long-acting Therapeutics (HALo) will drive research, public and patient engagement, and the translational infrastructure required for the development and manufacture of new LATs to ensure the UK is at the forefront of this strategically important healthcare area.
Long-acting therapeutics (LATs)
LATs are set to revolutionise how we treat diseases and manage health conditions by replacing weeks or even months of pill taking with a single administered dose.
Already available in the fields of contraception, HIV therapy, and the management of mental health conditions, this new approach addresses the issue of missed daily drug doses which can cause a range of complications from a lack of efficacy to pathogen resistance.
LATs are a growing area of research globally, with pharmaceutical companies realising the benefits for clinical outcomes and patient well-being.
The Liverpool team, in a collaborative programme with Johns Hopkins University, were the first to demonstrate how an LAT could be used to effectively protect against malaria infection for long periods of time.
The Hub for Advanced Long-acting Therapeutics (HALo)
HALo will focus on understanding the physical science that underpins existing successful LAT medicines and use this knowledge to create new proof-of-concept LAT medicine candidates for diseases and conditions where no LAT option exists yet, such as high blood pressure and asthma.
The project aims to create a national strategy for translational LAT development to ensure a smooth pathway for future LAT candidates through to clinic as well as conducting the first UK-wide engagement with patients and the public to ensure meaningful and appropriate future research is driven by patient involvement with an understanding of needs and preferences.
A number of wider awareness activities and debates will position LAT technologies in a UK perspective to benefit and impact future public health.
Led by Professor Steve Rannard, from the University of Liverpool's Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) and Department of Chemistry, HALo brings together academics, industry, clinicians and other stakeholders including patient groups and policy makers.
Professor Rannard said: "Long-acting therapeutics have the potential to simplify the administration of medicines, improve clinical outcomes and reduce the costs of healthcare provision.
"They are widely predicted to revolutionise disease treatment and healthcare management. HALo provides a much-needed focal point for new LAT developments in the UK and by working with partners it will ensure the UK is on the path to global leadership in this exciting new field.
"The outcomes from HALo will have far-reaching benefits globally and also enable CELT focus on low and middle-income country healthcare needs where LATs are expected to be transformational."
WATCH: Professor Steve Rannard discusses HALo
The Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT)
HALo is a national facility and will be primarily hosted within CELT, the world's first academic centre of excellence focussed on LATs.
CELT has considerable experience in LAT development through translational collaborative projects which has allowed the UK to already establish a lead in developing long-acting formulations.
Professor Rannard is a co-Director of CELT alongside Professor Andrew Owen, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology.
Professor Owen said: "HALo is a fantastic opportunity to further extend the work of CELT and ensure a strong research and development base in the UK. Its contribution to global health will be considerable in the coming years ensuring a wider scientific understanding that can accelerate new medicine development for unmet needs everywhere."
HALo is a national facility and involves key partners from Queens University Belfast and the Universities of Manchester and Nottingham, alongside the Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool's Faculty of Science and Engineering, added: "I am delighted that the University of Liverpool is leading this important new research hub which will provide a huge boost to the UK's capability to develop new long-acting therapeutics. This award is testament to the vision and research expertise of Professors Steve Rannard and Andrew Owen, and their teams."
EPSRC Healthcare Hubs
HALo is supported by an £11 million funding award from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and will leverage £49.1 million in funding from partners.
It is one of five new healthcare hubs that aim to transform healthcare through the development and application of revolutionary new technologies. The hubs are supported by a total investment of £118 million, including £54 million from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and £64 million in cash or in-kind funding.
UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said: "These innovative technologies have the potential to improve patient care in the UK and around the world. By investing in this research, we are enabling scientists to develop life-changing technologies.
"By working closely with patients, healthcare professionals, engineers and industry partners, these advances can be translated into practical solutions that will improve the lives of people with age-related mobility issues, cancer, and other chronic conditions."
EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Charlotte Deane commented: "The five new hubs bring together a wealth of expertise from across academia, industry and charities to improve population health, transform disease prediction and diagnosis, and accelerate the development of new interventions.
"They represent an exciting range of adventurous techniques and approaches that have great potential to improving the lives of millions of people here in the UK and across the world."
About CELT
The Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics was established by the University of Liverpool in 2020 as part of a £30.5m international research consortium.
Formed by joint funding from Liverpool and the global health organisation Unitaid, CELT combines the University's world-renowned expertise in pharmacology and materials chemistry to transform existing medicines into long-acting treatments. It forms part of the Liverpool City Region's Investment Zone plans to supercharge the health and life sciences sector.
