Objective The project will focus on the pre-clinical development of carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Carbon monoxide (CO) has been shown, by several renowned laboratories around the world, to have a number of anti-inflammatory properties which turn it into an exceptionally promising compound against chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA. In its gaseous form CO will hardly be applicable as a drug in a clinical setting. One proponent SME, has conceived and produced a large number of molecules which will release or donate CO, inside the organism, in specific physiological or pathological conditions. These molecules, called CORMs, hold the promise of delivering CO in controlled amounts, at specific rates and in a targeted manner to inflamed tissues such as arthritic joints. In recent months some of these CORMs have been tested in preliminary experiments using rodent models of RA, and have yielded encouraging results in terms of efficacy and toxicity. The main goal of this project will be: to select a small number of exceptionally promising CORMs for the treatment of RA, to develop the best formulations for those compounds, to test their detailed pharmacological and toxicological properties, and ultimately arrive at one lead candidate for clinical development. With this aim, three different SMEs will join their resources, critical mass and knowledge in the field of CORMs, pharmacological test, analysis and standardization and validation of developed assays to gain the ambitious, but reasonable goal: at least one new molecule in clinical trials. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinerheumatologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinflammatory diseasesnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds Programme(s) FP7-SME - Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs Topic(s) SME-1 - Research for SMEs Call for proposal FP7-SME-2008-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme BSG-SME - Research for SMEs Coordinator Alfama - Investigacao e Desenvolvimento de Produtos Farmaceuticos, Lda. EU contribution € 475 500,00 Address Av. da Republica, Quinta do Marques, Estacao Agronomica Nacional IBET/ITQB, Lab.7.14 2780-157 Oeiras Portugal See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Agnes Lopes (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Frimorfo SA Switzerland EU contribution € 209 500,00 Address Chemin du musée 12 CH-1705 Fribourg See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Willi Hunziker (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Micron Research Service Italy EU contribution € 359 500,00 Address Largo della Fiera 10 57021 Venturina (Livorno) See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Claudio M. D'urso (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA Italy EU contribution € 3 500,00 Address PIAZZA UNIVERSITA 2 95131 Catania See on map Region Isole Sicilia Catania Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ornella Lo Presti (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA MOLECULAR JOAO LOBO ANTUNES Portugal EU contribution € 3 500,00 Address AVENIDA PROF EGAS MONIZ 1649 028 Lisboa See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Margarida Pinto Gado (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Swiss BioQuant AG Switzerland EU contribution € 3 500,00 Address Christoph Merian-Ring 29a 4153 Reinach See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Christoph Siethoff (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ALTA RICERCA E SVILUPPO IN BIOTECNOLOGIE SRLU Italy EU contribution € 45 000,00 Address VIA FIORENTINA 151 53100 Siena See on map Region Centro (IT) Toscana Siena Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Cristiana Tozzi (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data