UK firms plan assault on anti-smoking market

In doing so, the companies hope to capture a slice of market worth over $1.4 billion (€1.14bn) worldwide in 2002 and one of the fastest-growing categories in the over-the-counter (OTC) pharma market, according to Euromonitor. The focus of the collaboration is a dissolve-in-the-mouth product that has potential advantages over current treatment options such as gums and patches.

The two UK firms have entered into a six month option agreement to evaluate the yeast-based microencapsulation technology developed by Micap for smoking cessation products (SCPs) based on water soluble films. If successful, this could lead to an exclusive licensing agreement between BioProgress and Micap.

BioProgress has already been working with a US company to evaluate SCPs dissolving films as an alternative to gums and patches, and said that a licensing agreement with Micap could hasten this process and improve the end product.

Micap's technology could enable the release of nicotine at a faster rate than current delivery methods, which would be advantageous in relieving the acute craving experiences by people who try to quit smoking, according to Mike Brennand, Micap's chief executive.

Graham Hind, BioProgress's chief executive, said: "The market for SCPs is growing strongly but there are several cultural and other circumstances where a gum may not be an appropriate or desirable delivery method, while patches can be slower in acting."​

He noted that consumers have already warmed to the concept of 'in-the-mouth' delivery - for example for breath fresheners and vitamins - and predicted that if the nicotine delivery project is successful other active compounds may be evaluated for delivery via these combined technologies.

Micap has attracted considerable interest with its yeast encapsulation technology, and just last week was lifted by the news that SkyePharma, a leading UK-based drug delivery company, had exercised an option to use the Micap system in a candidate product.