Celanese Broadens Partnership with Nanoform Finland for Biologics Development

On September 5, 2024, Nanoform Finland Plc and Celanese Corporation announced an expansion of their collaboration to advance biologic drug delivery. The partnership will integrate Nanoform’s Biologics platform with Celanese's VitalDose® Drug Delivery platform to enhance the controlled release of biologics from long-acting, therapeutic implants. The collaboration will also focus on developing a patient-centric, long-acting implant specifically for Multiple Sclerosis treatment.

This announcement builds on a promising collaboration that began in 2023. Initially, the partnership combined Nanoform’s advanced technology, which uses controlled expansion of supercritical solutions (CESS®) to produce nanoparticles of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), with Celanese’s VitalDose® platform. This integration aimed to reduce the burst release of therapeutics from drug-eluting implants while preserving a high drug load and maintaining a small implant size. Celanese's VitalDose® platform utilizes ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) to ensure sustained release of small molecules, biologics, and RNA over extended periods—from months to years. The platform’s customizable nature allows for tailored drug release across various form factors and configurations.

Dr. Edward Haeggström, CEO of Nanoform, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded collaboration, highlighting the potential of combining the two innovative technologies to create long-acting biologic implants. "We are excited to work with Celanese to merge our advanced delivery technologies," he said. "These implants could significantly advance therapeutic development by improving long-term adherence and potentially enhancing patient outcomes. Recent data shows that Nanoform’s technology enhances drug loading for biologics, and when paired with Celanese's platform, it holds promise for improving treatments and patient lives."

Susan Rahe, Vice President of Pharmaceutical Solutions at Celanese, also praised the expanded collaboration. "We are proud to continue our work with Nanoform," she said. "Combining their expertise in particle size control with our drug release kinetics knowledge strengthens our position in controlled-release formulations for biologics. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to engage in innovative partnerships that benefit patients and create value for our customers."

In this expanded collaboration, both companies will bear their own development costs. Their shared goal is to further demonstrate the value of Nanoform's API technology in polymer-based implants for both small and large molecule medicines. The partnership represents a significant step forward in the development of advanced drug delivery systems, leveraging each company’s strengths to enhance therapeutic options and patient care.

Nanoform was founded in 2008 when Prof. Jouko Yliruusi and Prof. Edward Hæggström merged their expertise in pharmaceutical technology and physics. This exceptional collaboration led to the creation of innovative particle engineering technology with the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. Nanoform’s technologies, along with its formulation and analytical services, cover all stages of drug development, encompassing both small-molecule and large-molecule therapeutics.