Nanomerics Ltd., a private speciality pharmaceutical company today announced that its Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Ijeoma F. Uchegbu has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the UK New Year's 2025 Honours list. Uchegbu was awarded a DBE "for services to the chemical sciences and to diversity and inclusion".
The DBE is a senior rank of the Order of the British Empire and is one of the highest honours that may be awarded to a woman in the UK. A DBE is awarded for a pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity (usually, but not exclusively, at national level), or in a capacity which will be recognized by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally and demonstrates sustained commitment.
Uchegbu has spent all of her professional life working in the chemical sciences and is credited with designing multiple drug delivery systems; the most conspicuous of which is Nanomerics' Molecular Envelope Technology (MET), a novel excipient, designed and synthesized in UK academic laboratories. Nanomerics' lead pharmaceutical asset, OC134 eye drops, is powered by Nanomerics' MET, which is a non-irritant ocular penetration enhancer. Nanomerics' MET has been shown in preclinical studies to increase the penetration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into the front of the eye; increasing ocular deposition up to 18-fold, when compared to conventional formulations. In these preclinical studies, Nanomerics' MET also demonstrated the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to the retina from eye drops.
In a significant milestone, human dosing of OC134 recently commenced in the SUNLIGHT trial. Nanomerics has a pipeline of ocular assets that may now be tested in clinical studies and ultimately launched for the benefit of patients.
Professor Ijeoma F. Uchegbu, Nanomerics' Chief Scientific Officer
"I am incredibly thrilled to have been awarded this honour. I am so grateful that colleagues felt that I was worthy of this recognition. It is a moment of immense pride for me and for Nanomerics as it recognizes our decades long work aimed at creating efficacious medicines with reduced side effects."
Nanomerics' MET is being used to formulate other eye drops such as: OC137, indicated for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) and OC135, indicated for the treatment of glaucoma. Nanomerics is based in state-of-the-art laboratories in North London.
About the British Honours System
The British honours system rewards individuals with Honours, Decorations and Medals in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery. Honours are announced and awarded twice a year by His Majesty The King, with lists consisting of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire, and gallantry and bravery awards. Different awards are received depending on an individual's achievements.
What is the Order of the British Empire?
Perhaps the most well-known awards are classes of appointment to the Order of the British Empire. Instituted in 1917 by George V, the awards were created during World War I to reward services to the war effort by people not on the front line. However, they are now appointed to civilians as well as members of the armed forces.
They include (in order of precedence):
• GBE (Knight or Dame) - Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• KBE or DBE (Knight or Dame) - Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• CBE - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• OBE - Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• MBE - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
The two senior ranks of the Order of the British Empire are Knight or Dame Grand Cross, and Knight or Dame Commander. Both of these ranks entitle their members to use the title of Sir for men and Dame for women before their forename.
The honour is appointed to members who have made major contributions to any activity, usually at national level. Per tradition, knighthoods are often presented with a touch of a sword by the King or Queen.