Phosphagenics and US agency target cow infection

Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) will collaborate with the US Department of Agriculture to develop products aimed at fighting the bacterial infection mastitis in dairy cows.

Phosphagenics and the department’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will jointly formulate and test products that use the company’s Targeted Penetration Matrix (TPM) drug delivery technology.

Formulations to be tested include one containing a vitamin D derivative, based on ARS research suggesting that an infusion of the derivative into the infected quarters of a cow’s mammary gland is able to lower bacteria counts and clinical symptoms of mastitis.

The trials to be launched in mid-2013 will evaluate the effect and efficiency of the TPM-formulated products delivered via intramammary infusion.

Phosphagenics CEO Dr Esra Ogru said mastitis affects around 15% of the world’s dairy herd at any given time and causes economic losses totalling US$2 billion per annum in the US alone due to the effect on milk quality and quantity.

Besides licensing its TPM technology, Phosphagenics is also using it to develop products including opioid pain patches TPM-Oxycodone and TPM-Oxymorphone. The company is also working on topical variants designed to deliver pain relief without entering the bloodstream.

Phosphagenics shares were trading 4% higher at $0.13 as of around 2 pm on Tuesday.