- Lonza has expanded its service offering for spray-drying of proteins specifically designed for pulmonary delivery.
- The new offering provides clinical and commercial manufacturing services at a kilogram scale from Lonza’s Bend-OR site, which houses the Center of Excellence for respiratory delivery.
Lonza has expanded its service offering for spray-drying of proteins for pulmonary delivery. The new offering reportedly provides clinical and commercial manufacturing services at a kilogram scale from Lonza’s Bend-OR site, home to Lonza’s Center of Excellence for respiratory delivery.
Traditionally, the respiratory drug pipeline was dominated by small molecules. However, the landscape has shifted, with approximately 30% of therapies now being biologics. This trend is expected to continue, with biologics projected to constitute 50% of respiratory therapies by 2030.
Historically, protein-based therapies for respiratory diseases were limited to intravenous or subcutaneous injections. These methods are associated with frequent administration, high costs, and reliance on patient compliance. Lonza’s new offering focuses on delivering solid protein formulations directly to the lung. This approach offers a viable alternative to injections, potentially reducing dose and off-target exposure. The shelf-stable dry powder inhalers enhance patient access globally by minimizing reliance on cold chain logistics.
“Pulmonary delivery of solid protein formulations using a dry powder inhaler is a growing trend among drug developers,” says Kimberly Shepard, director, respiratory delivery, Lonza. “Our new clinical offering further strengthens [our] spray-drying expertise and provides manufacturing capacity from early-phase to commercial supply.”