Iconovo to evaluate ICOone Nasal for the development of antiviral nasal inhalation product
Iconovo AB (publ), which develops complete inhalation products for a global market announced today that it has reached an agreement with ENA Respiratory Pty Ltd to evaluate ICOone® Nasal for delivering INNA-051, a first-in-class, broad-spectrum, innate immunomodulator in development for the prophylaxis of complications associated with respiratory viral infections. Iconovo is entitled to step-by-step development service fees at a total value of up to SEK 0.9 million over the coming four months, whereafter further development work will be discussed.
ENA Respiratory is an Australian-based, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing broad-spectrum antiviral innate immunomodulators for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis of respiratory viral infections in populations at risk of complications, including COPD, asthma and immunocompromised patient populations. The company's lead candidate INNA-051, developed for intranasal delivery to target the primary entry site of viral respiratory infections, has been shown to significantly accelerate respiratory virus clearance in a Phase 2a flu challenge study.
“This is Iconovo’s fourth agreement within the recently launched strategic area for novel inhaled pharmaceuticals and the second agreement for ICOone Nasal, underscoring the huge market potential for nasally inhaled powder formulations. We look forward to working with ENA Respiratory at a high pace to meet an aggressive timeline,” says Johan Wäborg, CEO at Iconovo.
About ICOone® Nasal
ICOone Nasal is a unique, patented nasal powder delivery device for single use. It is driven by the inhalation of the user that gives a natural distribution of the powder on the nasal mucosa. By adjusting the size of the particles, the drug can be targeted to stay in the nose, partially or completely, or to be transported further down the airways. The inhaler comes with an ultra-low manufacturing cost thanks to the smart design which also makes it easy and intuitive to use. The simple design also enables patients and caregivers to learn how to handle the nasal delivery device with minimal training. It is particularly suitable for short-term treatment and as-needed use.
