i2O Therapeutics, a biotech company developing a platform to enable oral delivery of traditionally injectable biological drugs, has received a strategic investment from Colorcon Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Colorcon Inc.
 
In addition to this investment, Colorcon will collaborate with i2O to accelerate i2O’s research and development efforts. i2O previously announced its seed round of financing led by Sanofi Ventures and JDRF T1D Fund in April 2020. 
 
“We welcome Colorcon Ventures as a strategic investor at this pivotal time of company growth,” said Ravi Srinivasan, Ph.D., chief executive officer of i2O Therapeutics. 
 
Founded by a team of researchers from Harvard University, i2O Therapeutics is focused on the development of safe and effective oral formulations of therapies that are conventionally limited to injections, e.g. biologics, large molecules, and peptide-based pharmaceuticals such as insulin. The company’s innovative platform enables drugs that traditionally would not survive the hostile environment of the digestive system to pass through safely by utilizing a unique coating that dissolves in the small intestine, thereby releasing the active drug. i2O’s initial focus is on developing a novel oral formulation for GLP-1 analogs.
 
“We are excited to collaborate with Colorcon to help advance our ionic liquid technology given their rich history of innovation and expertise in pharmaceutical development,” said Samir Mitragotri, Ph.D., co-founder of i2O Therapeutics.
 
“Colorcon Ventures’ strategic focus on technologies that transform conventional delivery pathways aligns well with i2O. The ability to deliver injectable therapies orally has the potential to significantly improve patient adherence and outcomes,” commented Martti Hedman, Colorcon’s chief executive officer. 
 
Dr. Ali Rajabi-Siahboomi, chief scientific officer of Colorcon stated, “Colorcon’s excipients and in-depth pharmaceutical development expertise will help advance the use of ionic liquids for the oral delivery of challenging molecules.”