The project is based on a reformulation of an FDA approved drug substance in one of Iconovo's patented inhalers; ICOcap. The aim is to develop a new inhalable treatment for interstitial lung diseases (ILD). The value of the ILD treatment market was over USD 4 billion in 2022.

The formulation development is a continuation of the feasibility study and the pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study that Iconovo communicated last year and brings the company an additional revenue of SEK 2.7 million in 2024. The development work aims to result in an inhalation product ready to be transferred to manufacturing of clinical trial material. The partners can, during or after the end of the formulation development, enter into a license agreement that can generate additional revenue for Iconovo based on continued contract development work, milestones and royalty payments, or alternatively sales of inhalers.

Iconovo has successfully expanded its CDMO business performing contract development of original drugs in the company's inhaler platforms where Iconovo receives a fixed, healthy profit margin on work performed. The company already has five active customer agreements in the CDMO area and is expected to add three to five new agreements per year. In the coming years, this area will constitute a significant part of the revenue. An important factor for the company's long-term value creation is that new and existing customer agreements in this area also have the potential to lead to license agreements or inhaler sales.

"The collaboration with Kiox Pharma is a good example of our CDMO business model and shows the potential in reformulation of approved drug substances in Iconovo’s inhaler platforms,” says Johan Wäborg, CEO of Iconovo.

Kiox Pharma is a Danish Biotech company developing treatments for rare lung diseases with a high unmet need. The company's most advanced drug candidate is an inhaled treatment for interstitial lung diseases.