The Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics – Global Health (CELT Global Health), led by co-Directors Professor Andrew Owen and Professor Steve Rannard, have received Runner Up for the SCI Formulation Forum Innovation Award 2026.
CELT Global Health received the SCI Formulation Forum Innovation Runner Up Award for our one-shot-cure options for hepatitis C virus within the LONGEVITY project.
The Innovation in Formulation and Formulation Science Award recognises worldwide formulation innovations in both business and academia.
It acknowledges leading work where formulation innovation has delivered new solutions that lead and inspire the formulation community.
LONGEVITY is an international consortium creating long-acting therapeutics options for three key diseases for patients in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Our hepatitis C virus LONGEVITY work has shown proof of concept for a major contribution to a diagnose-and cure strategy using long-acting medicine approaches.
Despite being curable with potent directly-acting antiviral drugs, hepatitis C virus disproportionately affects people in LMICs. Challenging oral medicine regimens significantly contribute to difficulties adhering to curative treatments.
The ‘pill burden’ associated with current hepatitis C virus treatment means managing a course of up to 252 pills for between 8-12 weeks. Especially as the pills must be taken at very specific time intervals to remain effective.
If patients had the option of receiving a single injection at the point of diagnosis, it could help address the adherence challenges, and our engagement with patients and healthcare providers has indicated support for the approach.
SCI® is a global network of innovators who use science to tackle big societal challenges, including health and wellness. For our long-acting hepatitis C virus formulation research to be recognised by such a prestigious team honours the consortium’s work for these underserved patient groups.
The awards were presented at the SCI Formulation Forum 7th annual event: From nano to macro, which took place in London. The forum aims to spark discussion around innovation in design, testing and characterisation of formulations from research stage to market.
The LONGEVITY Project is funded by global health agency Unitaid.
The project also involves critical partners and collaborators in CELT Global Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Extentus Pharma Ltd, Johns Hopkins University, Medicines Patent Pool, Queens University Belfast, Treatment Action Group and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
