Nanonisation can ‘bring back to life’ troublesome assets, says Nanoform CEO

09-Oct-2018 - Last updated on 09-Oct-2018 at 05:49 GMT

(Image: Getty/Setixela)

Nanoform specialises in producing APIs in a nanoparticle size range, which the company claims can significantly improve bioavailability and potentially change the fate of an asset in the clinic.

The Finnish company uses patented nanoparticle technology to reduce the particle size of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and has received €7m ($8m) of investment for a new GMP-compliant facility.

Nanoform also announced that it would be using the investment to unroll a “tactical global commercialisation plan”.

Explaining what will be involved in achieving this, Edward Hæggström, CEO of Nanoform, told us, “[The company] has its sights set on serving the global pharma market. To this end, Nanoform will be appointing a senior level commercial team, to be announced shortly, who have significant experience in commercialising particle engineering and drug delivery technologies with major pharma and biotech.”

As to why global pharma and biotech companies would be interested in employing the services of the company, Hæggström explained, “By producing APIs in a nanoparticle size range, the active surface area of the particles increases significantly when compared to micron or larger sized particles. This increase in active surface area allows an increased surface exposure to the aqueous bodily fluid compared to a larger particle.

“When the API particle size is less than 200-150nm this will have a significant effect on the improvement of dissolution rate of the API.”

With greater dissolution of the API, the bioavailability of the drug can also be enhanced – Hæggström stressed that this could make nanoparticle technology preferable over conventional methods of achieving solubility, such as spray drying and co-crystals.

He stated this may make a significant difference to the drug development cycle and help the industry get more drugs to market.

He concluded, “This technology could truly enable some of these drugs to be brought back into clinical development and to be commercialised. Nanoform is looking to partner with pharma and biotech to bring ‘back to life’ some of their most valuable assets and enable the pharma industry to get more drugs to market and have a positive impact on patient populations globally.”