Catalent has signed an agreement with Cybin, Inc., a Canadian biotech company focused on progressing psychedelic therapeutics, to apply Catalent’s proprietary Zydis orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) technology for the delivery of Cybin’s novel deuterated tryptamine (CYB003), a potential therapy for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.

Zydis technology creates a freeze-dried tablet that disperses almost instantly in the mouth without water. Delivering CYB003 in such a dose form could have significant benefits, as an ODT would allow pre-gastric delivery and prevent first pass metabolism, potentially improving the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The project is slated to begin in April 2021 and will involve initial feasibility studies being conducted for the manufacturing and analytical testing of ODT doses containing varying quantities of CYB003, alongside different excipients.

Jonathan Arnold, President of Oral and Specialty Delivery at Catalent, said, “We look forward to working with Cybin to potentially develop a novel and fast-acting therapy for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. The Zydis platform is an ideal technology to leverage for this type of drug formulation, as pre-gastric absorption is crucial for efficacy.”

Doug Drysdale, Cybin’s CEO, added, “We are excited to partner with the team at Catalent with the aim of developing fast-acting, shorter-duration formulations of CYB003, recently acquired as part of our acquisition of Adelia Therapeutics. Our focus on reducing the need for health system resources, such as in-clinic therapist time, is an important part of our goal to create scalable, more accessible treatments for mental health disorders.”

Catalent’s 250,000 sq. ft. site in Swindon, U.K. houses the company’s Zydis development and manufacturing operation, which produces over one billion ODTs annually.