Iconovo AB Partners with Lonza to Develop Inhalable Biologic for Obesity Treatment

• Iconovo AB has entered into a strategic collaboration with Lonza to develop spray-dried formulations of an intranasal biologic for obesity treatment, using Iconovo’s proprietary ICOone Nasal device.

• The partnership will focus on creating formulations that ensure the biologic’s stability and bioavailability while maintaining compatibility with the ICOone Nasal device.

Iconovo AB, an innovator in the development of inhalable drugs, has announced a collaboration with Lonza to develop a novel spray-dried formulation of an intranasal biologic aimed at treating obesity. This project marks the first step in Iconovo’s strategic initiative to replace traditional injection and oral treatments with inhalable alternatives, using its proprietary ICOone Nasal device.

The collaboration agreement stipulates that Lonza will leverage its expertise in spray-drying at its Bend site in the United States, focusing on addressing challenges related to bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. Both companies aim to develop formulations that optimise particle size, stability, and device compatibility, while ensuring the biological activity of the compound is preserved.

The ICOone Nasal device is designed to administer a biologic through the nose in a single inhalation, providing a more patient-friendly alternative to current injectable treatments. Each inhaler delivers a standard dose of the biologic with one inhalation per nostril. This collaboration represents a significant step towards non-invasive delivery methods for biologic drugs, particularly for patients with obesity.

Johan Wäborg, CEO of Iconovo, expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating, “Lonza is a world leader in bioavailability enhancement and renowned for its spray-drying capabilities of biologics. Combined with Iconovo’s unique nasal inhaler, we expect the result to be an unprecedented patient-friendly product, and we hope that this cooperation will lead to a fruitful, long-term collaboration that goes beyond this specific project.”

Kim Shepard, Director of Advanced Drug Delivery at Lonza, echoed the positive outlook, saying, “Our team at Lonza’s respiratory center of excellence in Bend is pleased to work with Iconovo on its innovative applications, combining Lonza’s particle engineering expertise with Iconovo’s state-of-the-art devices.”

This collaboration aligns both companies’ missions to enhance patient care by providing non-invasive, accessible treatments for chronic conditions, such as obesity. With the combined strengths of Iconovo’s innovative inhaler technology and Lonza’s expertise in drug formulation, the partnership has the potential to reshape the future of biologic drug delivery.