Tetratherix aims for ‘holy grail’ of peptides with Superpower nasal spray pact
US-based Superpower is licensing Australian nasal spray technology from an ASX-listed biotech, and funding clinical research Big Pharma won’t touch.
Max Marchione, the colourful and confident CEO of Australian AI-led health startup Superpower has a theory for why peptides, one of the hottest areas of modern medicine, have comparatively low levels of clinical research behind them.
“Big Pharma doesn’t have the incentive, because payers won’t pay for something that targets wellness rather than disease, and pharma won’t pay for something they cannot patent,” he tells Capital Brief.
Marchione has built a reputation as a peptide enthusiast, and is upping his conviction through an exclusive research and development agreement with ASX newcomer Tetratherix to develop needle-free nasal delivery of peptides, GLP-1s and hormones for the American market.
The deal will see Sydney-based Tetratherix provide its proprietary polymer-based carrier system to help deliver peptide-based medicines — including weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 agonists — via the nose rather than using injections.
