We see opportunities in this sector, where medical innovation and biomedical technologies are causing a complete reset of how and what services and treatments are provided, particularly in areas such as preventative medicines and inflammatory diseases.
Decisions, relationships, products and technologies being considered today are going to reshape the marketplace. The Hardie Health Group is working hard to ensure that it is involved in some of the successes in this field.
We are open to discussing new and emerging research and development in the biotechnology industry.
Proteios
AUSTRALIA. We are currently engaged in two distinct research projects that seek to discover new molecules for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and for accelerating wound healing.
Inflammatory Diseases
Our most advanced program involves the development of peptides for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and eczema. Specifically, we have developed and patented a modified lead molecule called RP23 that has shown impressive activity in preclinical models where it has been shown to reduce skin inflammation, redness, thickening and scaling when applied topically as a cream.
Importantly, RP23 only modulates inflammation where it is applied to inflamed skin, and does not suppress systemic immune responses, unlike many currently available therapies.
We have also recently shown that inhaled RP23 is effective at suppressing inflammation in the lung during viral infection.
Wound Healing
A hallmark of inflammation is the accumulation of white blood cells (leukocytes) that neutralise infectious agents and facilitate repair of tissues. The movement of these white blood cells to the site of injury or infection is controlled by small proteins called chemokines that bind and signal through specialised receptors called chemokine receptors. A number of inflammatory diseases (including inflammatory lung disease and arthritis) are characterised by dysregulation of this system and molecules that bind to chemokines are recognised as an attractive therapeutic approach.
Our team has discovered small cyclic peptide molecules that bind tightly to chemokines and prevent inflammatory signalling. Optimisation of these molecules for use in disease models is currently underway.
AOTEAROA NZ. Medical Kiwi is helping to change the way the world delivers health outcomes, bringing their medicinal cannabis and natural wellness products to the global market. The alignment between Medical Kiwi and Hardie Health’s vision meant an easy decision to combine the two companies. Medical Kiwi will continue the Hardie Health work on the local plant species with known traditional medicinal qualities. Our novel compound, Balaenone, from one of these plants currently has patent applications pending in 8 countries.