Key Takeaways
- Nona Biosciences and Lonza have entered a strategic collaboration to develop best‑in‑class single‑domain antibody (VHH/HCAb) technologies that can cross the blood‑brain barrier (BBB) for central nervous system (CNS) disease therapeutics.
- The partnership will leverage Nona’s proprietary Harbour Mice® fully human heavy‑chain‑only antibody (HCAb) platform, which generates high‑affinity, fully human VHH binders with strong developability.
- Lonza contributes its protein‑development expertise, the GS Gene Expression System®, and GlycoConnect® bioconjugation technology to optimize and scale selected BBB‑crossing candidates.
- Financial terms include upfront and option payments to Nona, plus shared revenue from any future licensing agreements arising from the collaboration.
- Executives from both companies emphasized that the alliance accelerates technology advancement, expands licensing and commercialization opportunities, and aims to deliver next‑generation BBB‑crossing solutions for devastating CNS disorders.
- Nona’s Harbour Mice® platform is versatile, supporting bispecifics, multi‑specifics, CAR‑T, ADCs, mRNA therapeutics, and other modalities, positioning the collaboration to unlock diverse therapeutic avenues.
Strategic Collaboration Announcement
On July 1, 2026, Nona Biosciences (“Nona”) announced a strategic collaboration with Lonza to develop best‑in‑class single‑domain antibody‑based blood‑brain barrier (BBB)‑crossing technologies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The press release, disseminated via PRNewswire, highlights that the alliance will combine Nona’s innovative antibody discovery platforms with Lonza’s protein‑development and manufacturing capabilities. The goal is to create a versatile BBB‑crossing platform capable of delivering a wide range of therapeutic modalities into the CNS, thereby opening new opportunities in CNS drug development and technology licensing.
Leveraging Nona’s Harbour Mice® Platform
Central to the collaboration is Nona’s proprietary Harbour Mice® fully human heavy‑chain‑only antibody (HCAb) platform. This technology generates fully human HCAbs and VHH (single‑domain antibody) binders that exhibit exceptional affinity and developability. Because the Harbour Mice® system is the world’s first fully human HCAb transgenic mouse with clinical validation, it provides a reliable source of human‑derived single‑domain binders that can be used as plug‑and‑play components in bispecifics, multi‑specifics, CAR‑T cells, antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA therapeutics, and other formats. By exploiting this platform, the partners aim to discover and optimize BBB‑crossing candidates that retain high specificity and favorable physicochemical properties.
Lonza’s Complementary Capabilities
Lonza will contribute its extensive protein‑development expertise, the GS Gene Expression System® for high‑yield expression, and GlycoConnect® bioconjugation technology to support the optimization and broader application of the selected BBB‑crossing candidates. These tools enable precise control over protein production, post‑translational modifications, and site‑specific conjugation, which are critical for generating therapeutically viable BBB‑shuttling molecules. Lonza’s global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) network also offers scalable production capabilities, ensuring that promising candidates can move efficiently from discovery to preclinical and clinical stages.
Financial Structure of the Agreement
Under the collaboration agreement, Nona is entitled to receive upfront and option payments from Lonza. In addition, the parties will share revenues generated from any future licensing agreements that emerge from the jointly developed BBB‑crossing technology. This financial model aligns incentives, providing Nona with immediate capital to advance its platform while allowing Lonza to participate in the long‑term commercial success of the resulting therapeutics.
Executive Perspectives on the Partnership
Dr. Jingsong Wang, Chairman of Nona Biosciences, noted that the partnership validates Nona’s platform and strategic focus on next‑generation delivery technologies. He emphasized that Lonza’s global reach, regulatory expertise, and commercial manufacturing capabilities will accelerate the advancement of the BBB‑crossing technology. Beyond technology development, the collaboration creates opportunities for licensing, commercialization, and long‑term value creation, strengthening Nona’s position in the CNS delivery space and supporting better patient outcomes.
Dr. Di Hong, Chief Executive Officer of Nona Biosciences, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Lonza to develop and commercialize best‑in‑class BBB‑crossing solutions for CNS diseases. He highlighted that the collaboration underscores the power and versatility of the HCAb Harbour Mice® platform, which can generate differentiated, fully human single‑domain binders capable of overcoming challenging delivery barriers. By integrating Lonza’s services and manufacturing expertise, Nona is confident in offering next‑generation BBB‑crossing solutions that could unlock new treatment paradigms for patients suffering from devastating CNS disorders.
Peter Droc, Head of Licensing at Lonza, pointed out that acquiring IP rights to Nona’s BBB‑crossing technology, combined with Lonza’s flexible CDMO services, enables customers to translate promising CNS assets into viable therapeutics. He noted that the partnership allows collaborators to engage at any stage—from technology licensing to fully integrated development and commercial manufacturing—thereby reducing complexity and accelerating the path to patients.
Overview of Nona Biosciences
Nona Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of HBM Holding Limited (HKEX:02142), is a global biotechnology company dedicated to advancing biotherapeutic innovation through cutting‑edge technology platforms and integrated solutions. The company supports programs using its I‑to‑I® framework, which guides projects from early‑stage ideas through preclinical research, IND filing, and early‑clinical development, covering target validation, antibody discovery, and early development stages.
The Harbour Mice® technology platform generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in both conventional two‑light‑two‑heavy‑chain (H2L2) format and heavy‑chain‑only (HCAb) format. Notably, the HCAb Harbour Mice® is the world’s first fully human HCAb transgenic mouse with clinical validation. This platform’s versatility enables the use of fully human VH single‑domain antibodies as plug‑and‑play components for a broad spectrum of modalities, including bispecific antibodies, multi‑specific antibodies, CAR‑T therapies, antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA‑based therapeutics, and more.
By integrating Harbour Mice® with single‑B cell screening technology, NonaCarFx™ (a direct CAR‑function‑based screening platform), Hu‑mAtrIx™ (an AI‑driven drug discovery platform), Modalities‑on‑Demand® (a next‑generation modalities solution), and end‑to‑end preclinical drug development services, Nona Biosciences aims to drive the global invention of transformative next‑generation drugs. Additional information is available at www.nonabio.com.
Implications for CNS Drug Development
The collaboration addresses a longstanding challenge in neurology: the blood‑brain barrier severely limits the entry of many therapeutic molecules into the CNS. By engineering single‑domain antibodies that can shuttle cargo across the BBB, the partnership seeks to enable the delivery of diverse therapeutic modalities—ranging from traditional antibodies to novel formats such as CAR‑T cells and mRNA therapeutics—directly to the brain. Success could transform the treatment landscape for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain tumors, and various neuropsychiatric disorders, where effective CNS penetration has historically been a bottleneck.
Furthermore, the shared licensing revenue model encourages broader dissemination of the technology. Lonza’s CDMO infrastructure can provide manufacturing scale‑up to multiple partners, accelerating clinical trials and eventual commercialization. The combined expertise of Nona’s discovery platform and Lonza’s development and manufacturing strengths positions the collaboration to deliver best‑in‑class BBB‑crossing solutions that could become a cornerstone of future CNS therapeutic strategies.
Conclusion
The strategic alliance between Nona Biosciences and Lonza represents a significant step forward in overcoming the BBB delivery challenge. By merging Nona’s fully human HCAb Harbour Mice® platform with Lonza’s protein‑expression, bioconjugation, and manufacturing capabilities, the collaboration aims to generate versatile, high‑affinity single‑domain antibodies capable of ferrying a wide array of therapeutics into the CNS. Financial terms, including upfront payments, option fees, and shared licensing revenue, provide both parties with the resources and incentives needed to advance the technology from discovery to patient‑impact. Executives from both companies express confidence that the partnership will unlock new treatment paradigms for debilitating CNS disorders, ultimately improving patient outcomes and expanding the frontier of biologic drug development.