Lonza has acquired the rights to Nona Biosciences’ transferrin receptor (TfR1) blood-brain barrier (BBB) technology and has expanded its strategic collaboration with the company to develop next-generation BBB delivery technologies. Under the agreement, Lonza will immediately offer the technology to developers of central nervous system (CNS) therapies while continuing to work with Nona on future BBB delivery solutions.

The blood-brain barrier protects the brain by preventing many substances from entering it. Although this is essential for normal brain function, it also makes it difficult for many therapeutic molecules to reach the brain, creating a major challenge in developing effective treatments for CNS disorders.

The agreement strengthens Lonza’s capabilities in supporting customers developing advanced CNS therapies by improving the delivery of biologic medicines across the blood-brain barrier. The company will combine the acquired BBB technology with its biologics development expertise, including the GS Gene Expression System and GlycoConnect bioconjugation technology, to help customers overcome complex drug delivery challenges and accelerate the development of CNS therapies.

The collaboration builds on an earlier research partnership between the two companies, which validated Nona’s BBB-crossing technology. Preclinical studies showed that Nona’s TfR1-binding single-domain VHH technology, used either as an IgG fusion or together with Lonza’s GlycoConnect technology, achieved improved brain delivery compared with a leading industry benchmark in a relevant transgenic model.

With growing investment in CNS drug development, demand is increasing for technologies that enable reliable and targeted delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Lonza expects the acquired technology to help customers speed up innovation, expand development opportunities and support the delivery of new treatments for patients with neurological disorders.

The acquisition also strengthens Lonza’s position as a contract development and manufacturing partner by combining proprietary delivery technologies with integrated development and manufacturing services. The continued collaboration with Nona will focus on advancing next-generation BBB delivery solutions based on single-domain antibody technology for CNS diseases.

 

Source: lonza.com

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