From the laboratory to the veterinary clinic: nanotechnology can help treat chronic diseases in animals

Solution created by Brazilian startup can treat pain and inflammation in pets.

By Roseli Andrion  |  Agência FAPESP – Greater comfort, effectiveness, and practicality in the treatment of chronic diseases common in older animals, such as arthritis and osteoarthritis, are the goals of a platform created by Brazilian startup ForNano. The solution is a nanostructured pharmaceutical film that releases the active ingredients of medications in a controlled manner within animals’ bodies.

The initial idea, which originated in academia, was a film for the controlled release of anesthetics for dental applications. “We developed the film, but working with anesthetics is very difficult,” says Viviane Guilherme Damasio, a pharmacist and co-founder of the startup. The company encountered regulatory complexity with the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and difficulty negotiating with the human pharmaceutical industry with this product.

This motivated them to approach the veterinary segment and change direction during the High-Tech Entrepreneurship Training Program (PIPE Empreendedor), a mentoring program linked to the FAPESP Innovative Research in Small Businesses Program (PIPE). This immersion, combined with market research, presented an unexpected opportunity for the entrepreneurs. “Participants from other companies said: ‘We work with herbal medicines, and pills and other pharmaceutical forms are a challenge for some animals. So, the film seems very interesting,’” Damasio recalls.

This observation revealed possibilities that the researchers had not considered. The veterinary market is less saturated and more receptive to innovation. It has fewer bureaucratic regulatory processes carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA). The market also offers incentives for formulations based on innovative technologies, making the regulatory process more favorable for startups. “In addition to the lack of solutions, the plant we work with is already used in the segment and has the potential to improve the lives of many pets.”

Platform

However, the anesthetic film has not been discarded. In fact, it has become a platform that can be used with different medications. “We saw that we could adapt it for other active ingredients, such as anti-inflammatory herbal medicines,” explains Juliana Damasceno Oliveira, a pharmacist and the co-founder of the company. “Chronic diseases require continuous treatment and,     in this scenario, the prolonged release of the active ingredient makes a difference.”

This process is possible because nanoparticles allow the drug to be effective for a longer period of time with fewer doses. Instead of bitter tablets that are difficult to administer to animals, the product can be applied in the form of a film, gel, or powder, which makes it easier for both guardians and animals to adhere to treatment.

Another unique feature of the technology is the use of functional excipients. “I use a plant for its anti-inflammatory properties, but the compounds in the nanoparticle also have anti-inflammatory properties,” explains Damasio. As a result, in addition to the main active ingredient, the components of the nanoparticle also contribute to the therapeutic effect. This synergistic action enhances the results.

Brazilian technology

The herbal medicine selected by ForNano is already used in veterinary medicine, but the formulations are imported and expensive. With the format proposed by the startup, the dose can be reduced because the solution is just as effective with a smaller amount of the herbal medicine. This means fewer side effects and cheaper treatments. “The guardian will no longer need to give medicine three times a day. One daily application will be enough,” he points out.

The product should have different pharmaceutical forms: liquid, dry, gel, and film. “We may not market all of them, but we’ll at least supply the excipient to compounding pharmacies to develop the final options,” comments Damasio. This flexibility allows the product to be adapted to the specific needs of different animals and clinical situations.

The liquid formulation of ForNano’s alternative is already ready. The researchers’ new challenge is obtaining the dry version, which is necessary for use in films or powder. “We won’t have any difficulty because it’s the same path we followed for the anesthetic,” says the researcher. For this stage, the startup is looking for specialized partners.

Meanwhile, collaborating veterinarian Joyce Magalhães will begin a pilot project with dogs. “We’ll perform blood and stool tests, everything to monitor the benefits of the developed formulation,” explains Damasio. These tests are essential to confirm the formulation’s efficacy and safety before conducting broader studies.

The project is currently in the early stages of technological maturity. The formulations are being handled by researcher Talita Cesarim Mendonça Bolline. The final product is expected to reach the veterinary market within three years. “It’s a realistic timeline. We want to speed things up, but we know that each stage must be completed with rigor,” says Damasio.

Similar trajectories

Viviane Damasio and Juliana Oliveira are nanotechnology specialists. That is where the name of the startup came from: ForNano combines “formulations” and “nanotechnology.” Their passion for research began early on, but they both felt the need for the science developed in universities to reach the population. “We needed to understand how to transform the knowledge provided by research into a product,” says Damasio.

That is why they decided to become entrepreneurs. In 2022, they founded ForNano and set it up at the Technology-Based Business Incubator (INCAMP) at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). The development of the startup’s veterinary product is supported by the PIPE program. “We’d already learned the importance of regulation, deadlines, and production processes, and we saw the possibility of standing on our own two feet,” says Oliveira.

One of ForNano’s main supporters and collaborators is Professor Eneida de Paula from the Institute of Biology at UNICAMP. She was responsible for introducing the researchers to nanotechnology during their doctoral studies. “We tested ready-made formulations for companies. Some drugs have nanoparticles, such as liposomes, micelles, and other components, which must be tested in accordance with regulatory requirements,” Damasio describes.

According to the entrepreneurs, the environment in which they operate allows them to exchange experiences with other startups and access courses and mentoring. “The courses we took there were fundamental,” says Damasio. In addition, the company uses technology from Autocoat, another startup supported by FAPESP, to make the film. “The innovation ecosystem creates synergies between different projects. This is very important and cool.”

The researchers say that PIPE was essential not only for its financial support but also for the entrepreneurial training it provides to researchers. “We learned how to issue invoices, prepare budgets, sell, communicate, and other business aspects. These factors are crucial, but academia doesn’t teach them,” Oliveira points out.

Increased scale

ForNano’s first customers are likely to be veterinary compounding pharmacies, which have more flexibility to incorporate new products and will allow for more direct contact with end users. “We’ll supply the raw material with instructions for use. Later on, we’ll be able to sell the finished films,” Damasio explains.

The plan is to steadily scale up based on this experience and reach the human pharmaceutical market within at least five years. “Our dream is to see this technology take over the world,” says Oliveira.

The plans include internationalization, job creation, inspiration for new research, and a better quality of life for animals and their caretakers. “Nowadays, pet owners pay much closer attention to their pets. There is great concern about quality of life, including preventive treatments,” points out Damasio. “This market is more receptive to innovation and willing to invest in more sophisticated treatments.”

The scientists aim to combine science and affection, as well as technology and impact, while contributing to the development of Brazil’s biotechnology sector. The goal of the new product is to help more pets live with less pain and a better quality of life. This is thanks to an innovation born in academia that has found its place in the real world.