Companies Partner to Scale Up Atomic Layer Deposition for Injectable Drug Delivery
Forge Nano, a U.S. advanced materials firm, and Sweden's Nanexa have signed a joint development agreement to improve manufacturing of Nanexa's PharmaShell drug delivery platform. The collaboration aims to scale up atomic layer deposition coating for long-acting injectable medicines. This could enable more efficient production of proprietary and partnered pharmaceutical programs.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a precision technique that applies ultra-thin, uniform coatings onto surfaces at the nanoscale. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, this capability is valuable for creating consistent protective layers on drug particles. The partnership between Forge Nano and Nanexa focuses on scaling up ALD for Nanexa's PharmaShell platform, which is designed for long-acting injectable medications. By improving manufacturing efficiency, the collaboration could help move these advanced drug delivery systems from laboratory-scale production toward commercial viability, supporting both proprietary and partnered pharmaceutical pipelines.
This collaboration could affect patients who require frequent injections for chronic conditions, as long-acting formulations may reduce dosing burden. If manufacturing scales successfully, healthcare providers may gain more reliable access to advanced injectable therapies. However, the technology's impact depends on regulatory approval and cost-effectiveness, which remain uncertain. The broader pharmaceutical industry could see faster adoption of nanocoating techniques if this partnership proves commercially viable.