Nanoform launches next-generation STARMAP® v2.0, the AI-based drug candidate selection tool for CESS®

HELSINKI, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanoform Finland Plc, an innovative nanoparticle medicine enabling company, has today launched the next generation of its STARMAP^® AI (artificial intelligence) platform, v2.0. The technology utilizes sparse-data AI to augment experimental results from its CESS^® nanoparticle engineering process with detailed expert knowledge, allowing reliable predictions to be made regarding partners' potential success of nanoforming their drug molecules.

CESS^® is a nanoparticle platform technology which produces pure homogeneous drug particles from solution in an excipient-free process. By reducing the particle size e.g., from 10 microns to 50 nm, the specific surface area can be increased by as much as 1000-fold, thereby improving dissolution rate, solubility, and bioavailability. Consequently, Nanoform can help pharma partners progress molecules into development that otherwise may not have been possible. It also opens up exciting possibilities for a wide range of novel drug delivery applications.

STARMAP^® is a digital version of the CESS^® technology that enables in silico experiments in large quantities, creating fast predictions of which molecules should be nanoformed. This is important since there are more potential drug molecules than particles in the known universe. STARMAP^® can be a powerful tool for pharma partners to pick suitable drug candidates for further development from their large libraries. The benefits might include faster path to market and new possibilities for broadening and deepening drug pipelines while simultaneously increasing the probability of drug development success.

The STARMAP^® platform can have wide applicability in drug discovery and development as well as in lifecycle management for existing marketed drugs and 505b2-like product development strategies.

 "AI algorithms developed for big data have so far struggled to live up to expectations in pharma because the data, especially for early assets (drug discovery, drug screening), that is available to pharma is typically insufficient for generating reliable predictions. We believe sparse-data AI will work much better - in practice, this means augmenting experimental results with detailed expert knowledge, which can be used to prevent the AI from predicting outcomes that are nonsensical based on prior understanding. There is a lot of untapped potential in sparse-data AI for the pharma industry and the field continues to undergo rapid development in both academia and the industry in general," said Prof. Jukka Corander, Head of AI at Nanoform.

"By determining which drug candidates are ideal for our CESS^® process, the next-gen STARMAP^® platform can potentially create new opportunities for our pharma partners. These can include both revisiting drug candidates unnecessarily discarded by AIs trained on old particle engineering techniques, and rapidly picking winners among new drug candidates. Ultimately, the benefit of more advanced AI will be felt by patients as new therapies are accelerated to market," commented Christian Jones, Chief Commercial Officer at Nanoform

Prof. Jukka Corander, Head of AI at Nanoform is presenting at the BIO-Europe Spring, EBD event on March 22-25 2021 on an AI-based panel discussing the opportunities for AI and STARMAP^® in Pharma (https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/).

For further information, please contact:

Christian Jones, CCO
[email protected]
+44 7804 474771

For investor relations queries, please contact:

Henri von Haartman, Director of Investor Relations
[email protected] 
+46 7686 650 11

About Nanoform

Nanoform is an innovative nanoparticle medicine enabling company. Nanoform works together with pharma and biotech partners globally to provide hope for patients in developing new and improved medicines utilizing Nanoform's platform technologies. The company focuses on reducing clinical attrition and on enhancing drug molecules' performance through its nanoforming technologies and formulation services. Nanoform's capabilities include GMP manufacturing, and its services span the small to large molecule development space with a focus on solving key issues in drug solubility and bioavailability and on enabling novel drug delivery applications. Nanoform's shares are listed on the Premier-segment of Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Helsinki (ticker: NANOFH) and Stockholm (ticker: NANOFS). Certified Adviser: Danske Bank A/S, Finland Branch, +358 40 562 1806. For more information please visit http://www.nanoform.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding Nanoform's strategy, business plans and focus. The words may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, any related to Nanoform's business, operations, clinical trials, supply chain, strategy, goals and anticipated timelines, competition from other companies, and other risks specified in Nanoform's prospectus published (on May 22, 2020) in connection with Nanoform's initial public offering (the "Prospectus") under "Risk Factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished to the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority in connection with the Prospectus. Nanoform cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Nanoform disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Nanoform's views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.

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