Aptahem teams up with Hongene
Aptahem, a biotech company developing RNA-based treatments for severe inflammatory conditions, announces a strategic collaboration with Hongene Biotech, a global leader in RNA and Oligo manufacturing. The partnership aims to explore and implement new, cutting-edge production methods that significantly reduce manufacturing costs and enhance sustainability for Aptahem’s lead candidate, Apta-1.
The collaboration brings together Aptahem’s pharmaceutical development capabilities with Hongene Biotech’s expertise in RNA and oligonucleotide production. Hongene, which operates production facilities in China and plans to expand to Hungary in 2027, will work with Aptahem to implement next-generation manufacturing technologies for its lead candidate Apta-1.
– This collaboration is an exciting development for Aptahem and a clear demonstration of our commitment to innovation, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. With Hongene’s advanced capabilities and global reach, we are taking an important step towards de-risking our manufacturing strategy and reinforcing our position in the global biotech landscape, says Mikael Lindstam, CEO of Aptahem
The partnership aims to substantially lower the cost of goods (CoGs) for Apta-1 while also achieving higher product purity. The process innovations under review include solvent recycling, time-efficient workflows, and streamlined formulation steps – each contributing to a smaller environmental footprint and improved manufacturing scalability.
Strategic fit in a global production network
Cost-efficiency remains a critical factor in evaluating drug candidates, especially for companies preparing for late-stage development or licensing opportunities. By partnering with Hongene, Aptahem not only reduces its manufacturing costs but also strengthens its supply chain against global disruptions.
The collaboration adds a third pillar to Aptahem’s global manufacturing infrastructure, which already includes LGC in the United States and Ajinomoto in Japan. This diversified approach is designed to ensure uninterrupted supply and flexibility across regions – an increasingly valuable asset amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
According to Aptahem, Hongene Biotech is currently at the forefront of novel manufacturing methods for nucleic acid-based products, making them an ideal partner for the company. Aptahem’s Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) advisor, Thomas Rupp, played an integral role in initiating and leading the strategic discussions with Hongene.
Advancing Apta-1 toward the market
Apta-1, currently in early clinical development, is an RNA-based therapeutic designed to treat life-threatening conditions involving coagulation, inflammation, and tissue damage. The candidate has shown promising preclinical results in models of sepsis – a condition for which treatment options remain limited and mortality rates are high.
With Apta-1’s multi-functional mechanism of action – combining anti-thrombotic, immunomodulatory, and tissue-repairing effects – Aptahem aims to position it as a potential breakthrough in sepsis care. Cost-effective and sustainable production is therefore not just a technical objective, but a strategic imperative as the company moves closer to the later stages of clinical development and eventual market entry.
Innehållet i BioStocks nyheter och analyser är oberoende men BioStocks verksamhet är i viss mån finansierad av bolag i branschen. Detta inlägg avser ett bolag som BioStock erhållit finansiering från.
