BioMed X, Janssen Enter Oral Drug Delivery Alliance

German independent research institute BioMed X has announced a new research project with Janssen Research & Development LLC, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, which aims to discover novel transport mechanisms in the human intestinal tract which could be utilized for oral delivery of diverse therapeutic modalities.

Biologics such as monoclonal antibodies have transformed the treatment of immune-related diseases, but need to be delivered by injection, which may have higher barriers to use compared to oral delivery. The collaboration was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

Christian Tidona, founder and managing director of the BioMed X Institute commented, “There are several techniques available to shield these macromolecules from the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, but little progress has been made to translocate complex macromolecules across the intestinal epithelial barrier into systemic circulation. This project has the potential to provide us with a novel delivery platform that enables the development of a new generation of oral immunotherapies.”