Two researchers at the University of Navarra have received the 2009 NORMON Award from the Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia (the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy), Ms Conchita Tros de Ilarduya, lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and María Buñuales, scientist at the Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA).

The NORMON Award is awarded annually for the best "Research and development of galenic formulations". The University of Navarra researchers presented their study entitled, "New ‘targeted' pharmaceutical formulae – devised in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) as vehicles in the genic therapy of cancer".

This dealt with the preparation and evaluation of new formulations for enhancing the efficacy of the transfection of genes, applying new therapeutic strategies for cancer. "Instead of directly administering the pharmaceutical drug, the corresponding gene which is capable of expressing it is given, affording a number of advantages", explained the authors.