Kindeva Drug Delivery Announces Knowledge Transfer Partnership With Loughborough University To Study Sustainable Propellants

LOUGHBOROUGH, U.K. — Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P. (Kindeva) has announced a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Loughborough University to develop more sustainable alternative propellants for inhaled drug products. The KTP is jointly funded by Kindeva and UKRI (United Kingdom Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK.

The KTP with Loughborough University aims to deepen Kindeva’s understanding of alternative propellants used in pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). The engagement proactively addresses a growing desire in the inhalation drug delivery industry to develop pMDI propellants with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than existing currently marketed propellants such as HFA134a and HFA227ea. Kindeva, which is already leading in the study of low-GWP propellants, will leverage the KTP to understand the physics involved in pharmaceutical spray generation, using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation of such propellants. The ultimate goal is to predict spray parameters and characteristics from first principles, such as regional deposition, droplet size, and velocity, which could enable Kindeva to use simulation techniques to design faster and more reliable low-GWP pharmaceutical products for its customers.

Kindeva, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has a long track record of innovation in complex drug and combination products. The company has a history of over 65 years in innovating inhaled drug products, stretching back to the development of the first-ever pMDI. A proven leader in promoting sustainability in the industry, Kindeva led the transition from CFC- to HFA-based inhalers, developing the world’s first CFC-free pMDI and the world’s first CFC-free nasal pMDI.

“The KTP with Loughborough University is exciting because it will strengthen Kindeva’s position as a leader in sustainability,” said Aaron Mann, CEO of Kindeva. “Following the Montreal Protocol of 1989, Kindeva was a pioneer in leading the transition away from CFC-based inhalers. We have every intention of leading the industry in the development of the next generation of low-GWP propellants.”

“This announcement also reinforces our immensely important relationship with Loughborough University,” added Mann. “We hope the KTP will help us build our partnership with Innovate UK, and the United Kingdom more generally, in our mission to develop and manufacture essential and sustainable medicines for patients in the UK and abroad.”

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Kindeva, who are leaders in the field of inhaled drug delivery and development of pressurised metered dose inhalers in Loughborough,” said Dr. Henk Versteeg, Senior Lecturer in Fluid Dynamics and KTP Lead Academic at Loughborough University. “The need to switch to propellants with lower global warming potential creates scientific challenges, but provides opportunities for us at Loughborough University to collaborate with Kindeva by sharing the latest insights in predictive engineering and to promote the adoption of digital engineering techniques in new product development.”

About Kindeva Drug Delivery

Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kindeva Drug Delivery is a leading global CDMO in the pharmaceutical industry. Kindeva provides unique technologies and quality services to its customers, ranging from formulation and product development to commercial manufacturing. Kindeva focuses on complex drug programs, and its current offering spans inhalation drug delivery, transdermal drug delivery, microstructured transdermal systems (microneedles), and connected drug delivery. Kindeva employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.kindevadd.com.

About Loughborough University

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivaled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2020 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019. Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in the Guardian University League Table 2021, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2021. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen’s Anniversary Prizes.

About Innovate UK & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills within the UK knowledge base. KTPs are funded by UKRI through Innovate UK with the support of co-funders, including the Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Invest Northern Ireland, Defra and BEIS. Innovate UK manages the KTP program and facilitates its delivery through a range of partners including KTN, Knowledge Bases and Businesses. Each partner plays a specific role in the support and delivery of the program.