Interim report Q1 2023
Following up with a clear road ahead
Gathering the team for a Ziccum Day on March 31, nicely wrapping up the quarter, we could jointly conclude that a lot of major improvements and top priority plans now are in place, and we can spend our efforts more efficiently focusing on execution and delivery in a number of areas.
Internal Trials giving clear confirmations for mRNA/LNP
A truly significant milestone was achieved during the quarter, when we were able to confirm excellent drying results with actual messenger RNA in lipid nanoparticle formulation. Previous trials with a model molecule led the way to these trials on mRNA, which is a most demanding challenge in turning liquid biomolecules into dry powder. It is a great confirmation of how the gentle drying at ambient temperature allows such a delicate and complex molecule structure to keep its shape, size and structure. Confirming that the resulting mRNA also retains its genetic effect is of course crucial – and on-going trials in a cell-based model are confirming good activity, viable for commercial applications. These confirmations are indeed fuelling the industry interest for our technology.
Portfolio overview
The Ziccum pipeline of external projects is depicted in a portfolio overview. This gives a general representation of the key steps towards the desired commercialization by entering into license agreements, licensing the LaminarPace technology for specific applications, and the current status of each project. The actual progress in a specific project may proceed via alternative or additional steps, and the timeline varies greatly depending on the resulting read-outs and the counterpart preferences.
Pharmaceutical development in general is subject to very strict confidentiality, and certain collaborations are given without partner name publication, until name disclosure is possible.
The company also pursues earlier dialogues with other counterparts in on-going business development efforts.
Project portfolio overview as of 31 March, 2023
*The text in the arrow represents the technology platform
Ziccum in brief
Ziccum is developing LaminarPace, a unique ambient drying method for biopharmaceuticals and vaccines based on mass transfer, not heat transfer. The technology is offered by licensing to vaccine and biologics developers and manufacturers in the global pharmaceutical industry.
By reducing drying stress to the active ingredient, LaminarPace uniquely enables particle-engineered, thermostable dry powder biopharmaceuticals which can be easily handled and transported and are highly suitable for novel administration routes. The technology has been successfully applied to mRNA, peptides, proteins, antibodies, lipids and enzymes as well as excipients and adjuvants, and is well suited for industrial application.