Spin-Off of the Year

Oriel Therapeutics, Inc.

Description

Growing out of research conducted in laboratories at UNC-Chapel Hill, Oriel Therapeutics Inc. is committed to developing technology for drug delivery to the lungs to better treat respiratory and pulmonary diseases. Through the development of a dry powder inhaler (DPI) with its own energy source, the Oriel team aims to provide patients with uniform medication dosage at a cost-efficient price. This will improve the health maintenance of those suffering from asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) allowing them easier breathing and better living.

Reasons for winning the award

Oriel Therapeutics was born out of world-class research conducted at UNC-Chapel Hill into powder dispersion and inhaler design proprietary technology. Since spinning out of UNC-Chapel Hill, Oriel Therapeutics has created a buzz in the biotech community with the company’s unique technology used to help improve respiratory and pulmonary diseases. Oriel has already positioned itself as leader in updating inhalant technology that has been unchanged for more than 50 years.

Quote

"This prestigious award is symbolic of the strong partnership between Oriel and the University of North Carolina. The core of Oriel's proprietary technology combines a decade of research into powder dispersion and inhaler design conducted in my laboratories, with a novel aerosolization approach conceived by Dr. Crowder." -- Anthony Hickey, Chief Scientific Officer

"We appreciate the CED selection committee's recognition of our successful spin -off from the University of North Carolina. We enjoy a continued relationship with the University through our technology license agreement and are confident that this will ultimately lead to the commercialization of our dry powder inhaler technology platform." -- Timothy Crowder, CTO

History

The core of Oriel’s proprietary technology, exclusively licensed from UNC-Chapel Hill, was developed through a decade of research into powder dispersion and inhaler design conducted by Oriel’s Chief Scientific Officer, Prof. Anthony Hickey. While completing his graduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill in Prof. Hickey’s laboratories, Oriel’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Timm Crowder, was the primary inventor of the novel aerosolization approach. Dr. Hickey’s longtime colleague Dr. Paul J. Atkins, former director of Respiratory Delivery Systems at GSK, joined the team as Chief Executive Officer, and Oriel was born. The founding team was joined by Chief Financial Officer Tom Sekel, a finance veteran in different industry sectors.

Photo courtesy of BP Studios.

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