Agroceutical Products was established in 2012 to commercialise over 8 years of research by Professor Trevor Walker and colleagues whose aim was to develop a cost-effective and scalable method of producing Galanthamine from daffodils in order to help individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
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Our History
The company’s initial research focused on finding viable and sustainable forms of natural Galanthamine because of the demand for this active pharmaceutical ingredient as an Alzheimer’s treatment.
Galanthamine has been approved in several countries for the symptomatic treatment of senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Although Galanthamine has been found to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, it is not readily available. Natural sources of Galanthamine, extracted from wildflowers, are limited and unreliable.
Synthetic sources of Galanthamine are costly and difficult to make. Generic drug manufacturers are actively seeking to develop and market generic versions of Reminyl (Reminyl is the Galanthamine based Alzheimer’s treatment) but need sustainable supplies of Galanthamine. Agroceutical Products has developed a method for producing natural Galanthamine that helps supply the needs of the market and is cost effective, scalable and reliable.
Demand for Galanthamine
With an increase in the number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease there will be an increase for the demand of Galanthamine.
It is currently estimated that there are 35 million people living with dementia worldwide and that 4.6 million cases are diagnosed each year. The rate of dementia is expected to double between 2001 and 2040 in developed nations. It is forecast to increase by more than 300 per cent in India and China. (Source: Ferri et al 2005, Global Prevalence of Dementia).
In the UK, it is estimated that the financial cost of dementia is over £20 billion a year. The increase in the number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, plus the cost to health care providers, strongly suggests that drugs that are used to treat the disease will be in very high demand. Healthcare providers in particular will be looking to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease through drug treatments as this approach could potentially save governments millions of dollars.
The daffodil plant contains over 300 other alkaloids many of which are already being investigated throughout the world because of the varied medicinal properties and Agroceutical Products is actively working to add them to their portfolio of naturally sourced and sustainable active pharmaceutical ingredients.
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Agroceutical Products’ unique research into the production of natural Galanthamine allows the company to fill a significant need in the pharmaceutical market that ultimately benefits those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently the Alzheimer’s disease drug market is worth an estimated US$8 billion
IMS; Company Websites Business Insights Ltd.
Health Benefits
Galanthamine improves the quality of life for Alzheimer’s sufferers
Although currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are medical treatments that include Galanthamine that can significantly improve the quality of life of those who suffer from the disease. Galanthamine can ameliorate the symptoms or slow down the progression of the disease in some individuals. Galanthamine can help to stabilize the disease for a limited time period.