AstraZeneca and Ceram Research, a materials development company based in the UK, have signed an agreement whereby Ceram will develop its inorganic-based controlled release technology in a feasibility study for delivering select AstraZeneca compounds.

In a statement, Ceram CEO, Tony Kinsella, said, “This technology, if successfully implemented, could provide AstraZeneca with an alternative formulation approach for delivering these compounds.”

Ceram said that controlled release is just one of the technologies being worked on by the company’s experts. Other projects involve multielement substituted hydroxyapatite for orthopaedic device coating applications. In addition, Cerma is hoping to expand its business into the US and Europe.

“Our work is focussed on commercial development of materials for industrial applications,” said Kinsella. “We have, for example, recently helped Greatbatch Medical to gain FDA (510K) approval of a coating implant submission. We have also worked with GlaxoSmithKline in the proving of its Sensodyne toothpaste.”