Robert Thorne, assistant professor in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division at the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, received $158,611 from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Accelerator Program for his project titled “Use of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 to Enhance Intranasal Delivery of Biologics: Stage 1 Studies to Advance Mechanistic Understanding and Preliminary Toxicology Evaluation.”

According to Thorne, the purpose is to develop the science and knowledge associated with his August 2013 patent filing describing the use of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as a novel, physiologic nasal absorption enhancer for targeting intranasally delivered drugs to the brain and/or systemic circulation.* The goals of the proposed work for Thorne’s funded project will be to study how intranasally applied MMP-9 is tolerated in rats by conducting a preliminary toxicology evaluation and to also conduct some supporting studies examining the mechanisms by which intranasally applied MMP-9 enhances the absorption and brain targeting of macromolecules.

The WARF Accelerator Program speeds commercialization of UW–Madison discoveries that have been patented by WARF by providing targeted funding and expert advice from seasoned business mentors known as Catalysts. WARF Accelerator support helps inventions achieve technical milestones and advance to the marketplace.

* “Methods and Compositions for Enhancing Intranasal Delivery of Therapeutic Agents,” published Feb. 14, 2014