Press Room

Event

DDL 2021

Start

Wednesday, December 08, 2021 - 00:00

End

Friday, December 10, 2021 - 00:00

Location: Online

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Hovione's Scientists On-Demand Presentations:

Hovione scientist at DDL Conference Nasal PAMPA intranasal drug permeability | Hovione

Nasal-PAMPA: a novel in vitro tool for prediction of intranasal drug permeability

Presenter: Patrícia Henriques, PhD Student, R&D DPD

Abstract:

In nasal drug product development, biorelevant in vitro methodologies are vital in order to select promising compounds or formulations, potentially reducing pre-clinical and clinical trials. Permeability assays are often applied to predict drug absorption and bioavailability. For nasal delivery products, permeation models include ex vivo models using excised nasal mucosa and in vitro cell culture models. However, ex vivo models present high variability and cell culture models are very time consuming. The Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) has emerged as a high throughput screening tool to evaluate drug permeability, and it has been applied to several barriers such as the intestine, skin or blood-brain-barrier. Herein, a new PAMPA model was developed and optimized to predict nasal permeability, using a biorelevant donor medium containing mucin. The apparent permeability (P_app) of 15 reference compounds was assessed in six different experimental conditions. The model with 0.5% (w/v) mucin in the donor compartment and 2% (w/v) phosphatidylcholine in the lipid membrane correctly distinguished high and low permeable compounds, with no false positives or negatives. In addition, it exhibited the highest correlation with permeation across human nasal epithelial RPMI 2650 cells (R² = 0.71). Overall, the optimized PAMPA model was reproducible, predictive and inexpensive, showing to be a promising non-cell based and biorelevant in vitro tool that could be applied in an early screening stages of new nasal drug delivery products.

Hovione scientist at DDL Conference DPI formulation screening: particle-particle interaction | Hovione

Hovione scientist Joao Pereira at DDL Conference DPI formulation screening: particle-particle interaction | Hovione

Leveraging DPI formulation screening: particle-particle interaction

Presenters:

Raquel Borda D’Água, Associate Analytical Scientist, R&D Analytical Development

João Pereira, Manager R&D Analytical Development

Abstract:

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have attracted enormous attention worldwide due to its local targeting, rapid drug effect and reduced systemic toxicity. However, DPI formulations consist of highly cohesive powders that tend to agglomerate. Therefore, understanding the role of cohesive-adhesive forces in different formulations and establishing a predictive approach for aerodynamic particle size distribution (aPSD) is thus, highly beneficial. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between powder dispersibility with the aerodynamic performance of different DPI formulations. Sympatec was used to characterise powder dispersibility and inherent cohesion and adhesion forces at different pressures. Powder dispersibility obtained by Sympatec and aerodynamic properties from the NGI analysis were evaluated in order to deeper understand the characteristic behaviour of these formulations

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Inhalation high performance APIs particle engineering formulation DPIs pdf | Hovione

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Hovione is bringing momentum to the intranasal field after announcing that its lead single-use nasal dry powder device, developed in collaboration with Industrial Design Consultancy Ltd (IDC), is now available for commercial partnerships. The milestone marks the transition from prototype to a fully integrated intranasal drug delivery platform that spans Hovione’s end-to-end partnership capabilities–from API synthesis through advanced formulation and particle engineering to drug product manufacturing, including device supply and advanced analytical tools for nasal performance characterization. The platform’s single-use device is designed to be manufacturable at scale and to leverage existing advanced particle engineering and drug product manufacturing capabilities, a practical advantage that can shorten timelines to clinic and commercialization while reducing development risk and cost. The device’s patented mechanism supports targeted nasal deposition, including access to the upper olfactory region. This enables rapid systemic absorption and potential nose-to-brain delivery pathways that are increasingly important for CNS and emergency-use indications. Beyond the single-use format, Hovione and IDC are advancing a multi-dose variant to broaden applicability across dosing regimens and therapeutic areas. The collaboration is backed by an intellectual property portfolio and initial patent grants, positioning the platform as a turnkey option for pharma partners seeking a single integrated supplier for both drug substance and device. This development arrives as intranasal delivery gains traction for systemic, CNS and rapid-onset therapies. This is precisely the focus of the upcoming 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit, for which Hovione is a key sponsor. The annual summit unites formulation, delivery and product development leaders to tackle drug-device compatibility, translational preclinical models, and strategies for scalable, regulatory-ready intranasal programs. Hovione’s recent progress will be highly relevant to attendees looking to de-risk nose-to-brain and systemic intranasal programs. Read the full article at News-Medical.net

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News Medical Life Sciences, 1 June 2026

Hovione advances intranasal drug delivery with commercial-ready dry powder platform ahead of 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit

Jun 01, 2026

Every year, the largest bank in Portugal, Caixa Geral de Depósitos recognizes some of Portugal’s brightest young minds through the Caixa +Mundo Awards, providing nearly €800,000 in scholarships to students as they pursue higher education. In this year´s edition, Caixa named the award bestowed upon students pursuing science for Diane Villax. This prestigious honor places Diane Villax among the award’s namesakes – a distinguished group of prominent personalities who have made notable contributions to Portugal´s socio-economic, cultural, political and scientific development over the last 50 years, such as António Ramalho Eanes, Mário Soares, José Saramago, Sophia de Mello Breyner, Leonor Beleza, Elvira Fortunato, Rui Nabeiro, Américo Amorim, and José Manuel de Mello. Diane Villax will also honor the seven scientific award winners by personally meeting with each of them, and following their journeys as future innovators and leaders. But this honor is about far more than one individual. It is a celebration of an entire organization and the people behind it. For 67 years, generations of dedicated teams have worked together with passion, purpose, and excellence to manufacture life-saving medicines and advance science that has a real impact on people. This recognition belongs to all of us.

News

Prestigious Caixa +Mundo Award named in honor of Diane Villax

May 14, 2026

CDMO Hovione and Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC) have announced that their new single-use capsule-based nasal delivery device is now available exclusively as part of an integrated platform that includes Hovione’s intranasal drug development and manufacturing services. The companies partnered in 2023 with plans for development of two capsule-based devices for intranasal delivery: the single-use device and a multidose device. Read the full article at OINDPnews.com

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OINDP - Orally inhaled and nasal drug products news, May 11, 2026

Hovione and IDC announce new single-use capsule-based intranasal delivery device for dry powder formulations

May 11, 2026

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