A new collaboration has been established to enhance the nasal drug delivery of Parkinson’s therapies using nanoparticle technology. 

Nanoform Finland and Herantis Pharma announced that they have signed a letter of intent to work together on the latter’s CDNF and xCDNF therapies. 

The planned and non-exclusive collaboration is intended to assess the utility of Nanoform’s platform technology for biologic drugs. The technology was recently launched, post filing of a provisional patent application with the US Patent Office, to enable production of biological nanoparticles as small as 50nm.

Subject to finalising definitive agreements, Nanoform will conduct two proof-of-concept studies on the CDNF and xCDNF molecules, leveraging its in-house formulation expertise. The goal of the planned collaboration is to increase the probability of success for enhanced blood-brain-barrier (BBB) penetration in the nasal drug delivery route for CDNF and x-CDNF.

Nanoform says that it is committed to supporting Herantis in the development of these programmes and has undertaken to invest, subject to certain customary conditions, €1,600,000 in a planned immediate directed share issue by Herantis.

“We are delighted to support Herantis Pharma in their development programmes in CDNF and latest generation xCDNF molecules. Completing this deal validates the strong market interest in and potential value that Nanoform’s nanoparticle platform technologies can add to pharmaceutical development programmes and to the patient,” said Professor Edward H?ggstr?m, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nanoform.

“We look forward to working together to enhance and enable superior formulations of the pioneering new drugs we have developed. Nanoform’s technologies show much promise for enhanced drug delivery applications in this complex and challenging field. It is our hope that this will open up new possibilities for improving the lives of patients with Parkinson’s and other related diseases. We value the opportunity to enter into collaboration with Nanoform and look forward to what the future brings,” said Dr Craig Cook, CEO of Herantis Pharma.