Our proprietary nano-lipid technologies have the potential to deliver new medical devices and drug and protein management solutions. Some of our treatments that have no side effects are already a commercial success, and our current research and development pipeline holds blockbuster potential.
Unique core disruptive technology platforms and IP; Sequessomes and Chaperones
Proprietary technology developed at a cost of over $250m
Specific proprietary product technologies protected by patents and patent applications giving cover for more than 15 years
Over 2000 patients treated
Over 20 successful clinical trials with a range of products
Conventional liposomes form rigid bilayer spheres, which are typically administered by injection. In contrast, Ascension has demonstrated that Sequessome vesicles (“Sequessomes”) can be applied topically, with no injection and have the ability to address the symptoms of OA in an entirely new way without the use of drugs.
Sequessomes are ultra-deformable, hydrophilic spheres made from phospholipid and surfactant molecules arranged as a bilayer. The surfactants soften the bilayer membrane making Sequessome vesicles flexible, stable and robust. This allows them to pass through the skin intact, penetrating deep into the body without requiring injection or skin permeation enhancers.
Conventional Vesicle – Liposome
Ultra-deformable Sequessome Vesicle
This provides a much-needed alternative to current approaches, which typically use either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids with a range of serious and potentially fatal side effects, or highly invasive injections directly into the affected joints. Sequessomes don’t interact with medications, the efficacy of which can be compromised by the use of other drugs. This is a particular problem for OA sufferers who are at greater risk of co-morbidities, most notably cardiovascular problems. The safety profile of Sequessomes not only benefits the patients but reduces the overall cost of care, an important advantage for healthcare payors. Ascension launched FlexiSEQ in Europe in 2012 as the first twice daily topical medical device for treating the symptoms of OA, and the first new class of treatment for osteoarthritic joint pain since the launch of the selective COX2 NSAIDs in 1999.
Chaperones are PEGylated liposomes that can be used alone or in conjunction with proteins and applied either intravenously or subcutaneously to escort exogenous and endogenous proteins and peptides in the body to improve their therapeutic profile. These liposomes use polyethyleneglycol (PEG) attached to the head group of a fatty acid chain that is embedded in the wall of the vesicle. The PEG provides some very useful attributes to the Chaperone vesicle, in particular it cloaks the vesicle in a sphere of water, meaning the Chaperoned protein or peptide has a longer half-life in the body, extending dosing intervals, reducing dosing amounts, and saving costs. In addition, the presence of PEG can allow for products to be administered subcutaneously, when they were previously only able to be administered intravenously.