01 Oct 2026
Lonza Advances Preclinical Aseptic Spray Drying Capabilities to Address High-Dose Biologics Delivery Challenges

  • Lonza’s particle engineering and formulation expertise is being leveraged to apply aseptic spray drying for next-generation biologics. 

  • This new technology platform addresses stability, concentration, and delivery challenges in biologics, including new modalities. 

  • Program advances beyond proof-of-concept with a focus on platform development, broader capability assessment and customer validation. 

Basel, Switzerland, 1 October 2026 – Lonza, the world's leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today that it is advancing a preclinical aseptic spray drying program to provide biopharma companies with additional formulation and delivery options for biologics that otherwise face limitations related to high-dose subcutaneous administration, pharmacokinetics, stability or manufacturability. The initiative builds on successful proof-of-concept work demonstrating the reliable formulation and spray drying of a range of monoclonal antibodies and conjugates at high concentration. 

The program, based in Bend (US), is focused on new approaches for biologics, including high-dose subcutaneous (SC) therapies, an area where current delivery options remain limited. As demand grows for patient-friendly biologic treatments, drug developers are seeking innovative solutions to deliver higher doses in smaller injection volumes. 

Aseptic spray drying remains a highly specialized technology with limited adoption across the industry. Lonza has leveraged its formulation science, analytical capabilities and particle engineering expertise to develop a facile and inexpensive aseptic spray drying platform for proof-of-concept studies. The approach is being investigated for a broad range of therapeutic modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and peptides. 

The research aims to address key biologics development challenges, including stability, dose concentration, pharmacokinetics and manufacturability. While spray drying offers potential advantages, such as improved stability and reduced viscosity of highly concentrated formulations through suspensions, technical hurdles remain, including protein stability, fast and reliable aseptic processing, formulation optimization, and scalable manufacturing.  

Francois Ricard, Head of R&D, Advanced Synthesis, Lonza, commented: “We believe aseptic spray drying has the potential to expand drug delivery options for biologics and new therapeutic modalities by addressing challenges associated with stability, dose concentration and patient convenience, but also pharmacokinetics. By applying our expertise in formulation science and spray drying, we are advancing approaches that could help customers develop and manufacture the next generation of biologic therapies.” 

Following proof-of-concept success, the program is advancing to dedicated development to expand sterile powder capabilities across a broad range of modalities, including existing drug product capabilities, while supporting interested customers. During this phase, Lonza will focus on platform development, technical evaluation and validation with interested customers, while continuing to assess the capabilities that may be required to support future customer needs.