Hitachi Europe Ltd., in collaboration with Elan
Corporation PLC (Elan) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has been
awarded an ESPRIT grant under the Irish Centre for Transfer of
Advanced Computing Technology's (ICeTACT) technology transfer
umbrella.
The Commission has approved a start date of July 8th1998.
The fifteen month project focuses on simulating drug delivery
systems in the human body and among its aims is the creation of a
"Virtual Laboratory". This would be used by pharmaceutical
companies to assess the efficacy of new controlled-release
mechanisms of drugs and could reduce testing on humans and
animals; a process which is often expensive, time-consuming and
occasionally, toxic. The partners believe that there is great
potential in the application of computer simulation to all aspects
of drug testing, as it may reduce reliance on in-vitro testing in
the early phases of drug design.
As well as accelerating the transition from the discovery and
development of a drug to its availability 'on the shelf', other
potential benefits include reduced side effects and the safer
delivery of potentially toxic doses. The partners envisage that
doses could in some cases become smaller, better controlled and
taken less frequently. Future examples include the oral delivery
of proteins such as insulin, vaccine patches and gene therapy.
Under the PSUDO (Parallel SimUlation of Drug release cOde)
project, researchers at Hitachi Dublin Laboratory (HDL) - part of
Hitachi Europe - will collaborate with TCD's School of Mathematics
to develop and implement models of novel drug delivery systems
supplied by the School of Pharmacy, TCD. Hitachi's massively
parallel computer, the SR2201, will be used to evaluate the
models. The results from the computer program will be validated by
in-vitro results carried out in Elan's laboratory at TCD.
Hitachi Dublin Laboratory has recently completed another
project funded by ESPRIT which assessed the potential of High
Performance Computing (HPC) for a small company in the food and
chemical industries. As part of the ICeTACT technology transfer
node, both projects are aimed at promoting the use of HPC in
industries where their impact has not yet been felt.
Dr Yutaka Kuwahara, General Manager, Research &
Development, Hitachi Europe, said, "We are delighted that the
PSUDO project has received funding from ESPRIT. Hitachi has been
at the forefront of research into high performance computing for
20 years and we are very proud that our technology can be used to
solve real life problems."
Ms Audrey Crosbie, ICETACT Project Manager of Trinity College
Dublin, said, "We are confident that this collaboration has
enormous potential to accelerate progress in this nascent area.
Clearly, the potential to create a 'Virtual Laboratory' has far
reaching implications not only for the pharmaceutical industry but
in the wider context of medical science."
Notes to editors
Future Applications of Drug Delivery Systems:
The applications of Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) are limited only
by the imagination. The principal benefit of a DDS is increased
control of drug level. The range of applications stretches from
the treatment of blood pressure & arthritis (where a sustained
level of the drug is required throughout the day) to that of
illnesses like cancer (where chemotherapy requires the drug to
reach a maximum effective,non-toxic level quickly and not greatly
fluctuate from that).
Hitachi Dublin Laboratory:
Hitachi Dublin Laboratory (HDL) was founded in 1989 to carry out
collaborate research and development in advanced information
technology. Since 1994, a major focus of the laboratory has been
High Performance Computing.
Hitachi Europe Ltd.:
Hitachi Europe Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd.
Japan. It has operations throughout Europe which provides sales,
marketing, technical support and research & development.
Hitachi, Ltd.:
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the
world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1997
(ending March 31, 1998) consolidated sales of 63.8 billion dollars
or 8,416 billion yen.* The companymanufactures and markets a
wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors,
consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more
information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at
http://www.hitachi.co.jp.
*At an exchange rate of 132 yen to the dollar.
ELAN CORPORATION PLC:
Elan is a leading drug delivery and bio-pharmaceutical company.
Its drug delivery technologies are designed to improve and control
the absorption and utilisation of active pharmaceutical compounds.
Elan markets more than 20 products in excess of 45 countries.
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN:
The University of Dublin, founded in 1592, is the oldest
university in Ireland. Trinity College is the sole constituent
college of the University. At present, there are over 10,000
students and 1,200 staff members working on the College campus
which is located in the centre of Dublin.
For further information please contact:
Emi Takase
Hitachi, Ltd.
+81-3-3258-2055
emi@cm.head.hitachi.co.jp
WRITTEN BY Secretary's Office
All Rights Reserved,
Copyright (C)
1998, Hitachi, Ltd.
