PolyTherics, Ltd.

Founded in 2002, PolyTherics is a spin-out company from Imperial College London and the London School of Pharmacy that is dedicated to using biomedical polymers to optimise pharmaceuticals for the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease.

PolyTherics has developed and patented an innovative approach to PEGylation, known as TheraPEG(TM), to prolong the half-life of proteins for development as biopharmaceutical products. PEGylation is the process by which the polymer Polyethylene Glycol is attached to molecules to modify their pharmacokinetic properties. PEGylation increases the residence time of substances administered into the bloodstream, thereby potentially reducing the frequency of treatment, decreasing side effects and improving patient compliance. For example, PEGylated interferon used to treat Hepatitis C may be administered once per week, in contrast to three times per week required for the non-PEGylated form.