Anneli’s role spans everything from early stage concepting to interrogating solutions, blending chemistry with creative thinking and leadership with coaching. In this interview, Anneli reveals more about the variety in her role, digging into data and what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

What does your role as a senior analytical chemist involve?
It’s incredibly varied – I’m involved in every project phase, from concept to delivery. It gives me knowledge of the end-to-end processes, so I’m often the go-to person when questions come up.

I enjoy ideating around the opportunities a new drug offers and refining my thinking when it comes to late-phase projects. Currently, our analytics and pharmaceutical teams are working together to identify the best, most stable pharmaceutical formulations after spray drying using our next-generation drug delivery technology AmorphOX®.

I coach the analytical team on the development and validation of analytical methods, as well as their transfer to our contract manufacturing organizations. I’m also responsible for planning and managing analytical activities and quality assurance. In my role as CMC-team lead, I am responsible for planning development studies, developing specifications, manufacturing processes and data trending.

How would you describe what it’s like working at Orexo?
We work in small project teams with really dedicated people who are all experts in their field. There’s a synergy effect between us that keeps us moving forwards quickly and effectively.

It’s great to work for a company that truly values innovation. We collaborate with Uppsala University, where Orexo is a member of the SweDeliver consortium. One of my personal highlights is welcoming Masters’ students to our labs for their exam work.

What do you enjoy most about your role?
It’s the people I get to work with. Collaborating in small, cross-functional teams gives me the opportunity to learn from the diverse perspectives and expertise in the room.
I thrive on problem-solving and enjoy digging deep into data to understand analytical methods and the products. This combination of teamwork, continuous learning, and problem-solving from end-to-end makes my role fulfilling and exciting.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on at Orexo?
Both the OX124 and OX640 projects are highlights for me.[1] Our analytical lab has progressed from testing tablets to nasal products, and we’ve invested in advanced analytical platforms that mean we’re well-equipped to perform everything from early development testing and investigations to full GMP[2] quality control testing.

We stress-test AmorphOX® formulations and combination products, and it’s exciting to see the results. The AmorphOX powder can withstand extreme temperature variations, from -20°C, where it remains stable and doesn’t freeze like a liquid, to extreme warm temperatures of 70-80°C.

How do the next twelve months look for you?
I’ll be advancing the OX640 project and further discovering what the AmorphOX platform can offer when it comes to formulating large molecules such as peptides and proteins, since I have a background in protein chemistry. The challenge with proteins and peptides is their intrinsic instability. The advantage with AmorphOX is that these molecules can be

formulated in a way to allow superior stability. This opens up new administration pathways such as intranasal, simplifies transportation chains and increases accessibility to medicines in developing countries. We have promising proof of concepts in peptides, proteins and vaccines based on the AmorphOX platform and accelerating one of these projects together with a partner in 2025 would be an exciting prospect.

[1] OX124 is an intranasal rescue medication for opioid overdose with a high dose powder-based naloxone. OX640 – a rescue medication for allergic reactions with powder-based epinephrine, using intranasal delivery. Both are based on the drug delivery technology AmorphOX.
[2] Good manufacturing practice.