Noxopharm’s Sofra™ oligonucleotides, delivered via InhaTarget’s inhalable lipid nanoparticles, achieved a significant reduction in lung inflammation in preclinical models, broadening Sofra’s therapeutic reach and delivery versatility.
- Sofra oligonucleotides reduce lung inflammation by over 75% in mice
- InhaTarget’s lipid nanoparticle inhalation system enables targeted pulmonary delivery
- Collaboration expands Sofra platform into lung diseases with novel delivery
- Results build on Sofra’s growing pipeline and delivery partnerships
- Plans underway to advance inhalation therapy toward clinical trials
Breakthrough in Lung Delivery for Sofra Platform
Clinical-stage biotech Noxopharm Limited (ASX:NOX) has unveiled promising preclinical data from its collaboration with Belgium’s InhaTarget Therapeutics, showcasing a new inhalation-based delivery method for its Sofra™ oligonucleotide drugs. Using InhaTarget’s proprietary lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the team achieved a remarkable 77% reduction in lung inflammation in a mouse model, signalling a significant step forward in targeting respiratory diseases.
Addressing a Large and Growing Lung Disease Market
Lung inflammatory diseases continue to impose a heavy global health burden, with hundreds of millions affected and limited treatment options for patients unresponsive to current therapies. The inhaled therapy market, valued at around US$11.6 billion in 2024 and forecast to exceed US$16 billion by 2034, presents a substantial opportunity for innovative drug delivery approaches. Sofra’s successful encapsulation in inhalable LNPs offers a novel route to modulate immune responses directly in lung tissues.
From Material Transfer to Efficacy Demonstration
The partnership began with Material Transfer Agreements signed in 2024 and 2025, enabling InhaTarget to develop optimized formulations of Sofra oligonucleotides tailored for pulmonary delivery. Unlike previous Sofra collaborations involving antibodies and target-specific proteins, this approach leverages LNPs to deliver immune-modulating oligonucleotides directly to the lungs. The preclinical tests induced lung inflammation in mice via a TLR7/8 agonist, with Sofra treatment significantly lowering five key inflammatory biomarkers.
Expanding Sofra’s Therapeutic and Delivery Horizons
Noxopharm CEO Dr Olivier Laczka highlighted the importance of this new delivery method, noting it extends Sofra’s versatility to a critical tissue type. This development complements recent strategic moves, including the appointment of Dr Laczka as CEO and collaborations to explore targeted delivery, as detailed in the company’s recent update on Sofra platform growth and partnerships. The inhalation route opens doors to treating a range of inflammatory and autoimmune lung conditions, aligning with Sofra’s broad potential across immune-related diseases.
Next Steps Toward Clinical Translation
InhaTarget CEO Frédéric De Coninck expressed enthusiasm about advancing the collaboration toward clinical trials, underscoring the synergy between the Sofra platform and their inhalation technology. While these results are encouraging, they remain preclinical, and clinical efficacy and safety will need thorough evaluation. Nonetheless, this partnership marks a notable expansion of Sofra’s delivery toolkit and therapeutic scope, potentially positioning Noxopharm to tap into multi-billion-dollar markets in respiratory and autoimmune diseases.
Bottom Line?
Noxopharm’s inhalable Sofra delivery signals a strategic broadening of its platform, with clinical validation the key upcoming hurdle.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Sofra’s inhalation delivery compare in safety and efficacy to existing lung therapies in clinical trials?
- What timelines are anticipated for advancing this inhalable formulation into human studies?
- Could this delivery method unlock new indications beyond lung inflammation within the Sofra pipeline?