Kindeva Drug Delivery and Orbia Fluorinated Solutions (Koura) Announce Collaboration for Low GWP Propellant Conversion

WOODBURY, Minn. and St. LOUIS, Mo. and BOSTON; Dec. 5, 2023 (Business Wire) – Kindeva Drug Delivery (Kindeva), a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on drug-device combination products, and Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA*) Fluorinated Solutions business (Koura®), a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of fluoroproducts and technologies, announced today a co-development collaboration for the conversion from existing marketed pressurised Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) products to Koura’s more sustainable and environmentally-conscious medical propellant; HFA 152a, known as Zephex® 152a.

This strategic collaboration will focus on accelerating the conversion of existing marketed pMDI inhaler products to low global warming potential (GWP) pMDIs utilizing Koura’s Zephex 152a platform with the objective of reducing respiratory healthcare carbon emissions while safeguarding patient choice. This partnership aims to facilitate conversion of pMDI products to the lower GWP propellent 152a and progressing them through clinical development.

The converted pMDI products will be available for licensing with anticipated launches occurring in-line with the expected commencement of a phase-down of existing pMDI systems containing HFC-134a and HFC-227ea within the European Union.

Orbia Fluorinated Solutions Business (Koura) President Gregg Smith said, “This is a significant step forward in bringing our lower GWP medical propellant Zephex 152a to the market and we are excited to partner with Kindeva to ensure patients have access to this life saving technology.”

David Stevens, Global Chief Commercial Officer of Kindeva said, “We are proud to partner with Koura to help achieve the dual objectives of significantly reducing the environmental impact of pMDI inhalers and ensuring patient access to inhaler options is not compromised.”

Stevens continued, “Kindeva has a rich history of innovation in the pMDI market and our comprehensive development and manufacturing capabilities uniquely enable us to help lead this transition. This strategic collaboration is symbolic of not only the commitment both partners have for advancing sustainability and advocating for patient choice, but also of the shared values of the two organizations.”

Koura and Kindeva are both exhibiting at the Drug Delivery to the Lungs conference (DDL) in Edinburgh, U.K., December 6-8 (booth #146 and #147, respectively) where they will be speaking with industry leaders on the low GWP propellent, 152a, and further relevant topics.

About Kindeva Drug Delivery

Kindeva is a global contract development manufacturing organization focused on drug-device combination products. Kindeva develops and manufactures products across a broad range of complex drug-delivery formats, including injectables (autoinjector, intradermal, microneedle), pulmonary and nasal, and transdermal patches. Its service offering spans early-stage feasibility through commercial scale drug product fill-finish, container closure system manufacturing, and drug-device product assembly. Kindeva serves a global client base from its nine manufacturing and research and development facilities located in the U.S. and U.K. For more information, please visit www.kindevadd.com. 

About Orbia

Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA*) is a company driven by a shared purpose: to advance life around the world. Orbia operates in the Polymer Solutions (Vestolit and Alphagary), Building and Infrastructure (Wavin), Precision Agriculture (Netafim), Connectivity Solutions (Dura-Line) and Fluorinated Solutions (Koura) sectors. The five Orbia businesses have a collective focus on expanding access to health and well-being, reinventing the future of cities and homes, ensuring food, water and sanitation security, connecting communities to information and enabling the energy transition with basic and advanced materials, specialty products and innovative solutions. Orbia has a global team of over 24,000 employees, commercial activities in more than 100 countries and operations in over 50, with global headquarters in Boston, Mexico City, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv. The company generated $9.6 billion in revenue and $1.95 billion of EBITDA in 2022. To learn more, visit: orbia.com.

About Orbia Fluorinated Solutions (Koura)

Orbia Fluorinated Solutions business, Koura, is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of fluoroproducts that play a fundamental role in enhancing everyday lives and shortening the path to a sustainable, circular economy. Backed by over 35 years of experience, Orbia Fluorinated Solutions (Koura) products are used in a vast range of applications including electric vehicles and energy storage, urban and rural infrastructure, indoor climate management, food and medicine refrigeration and even in treating respiratory conditions through the development of healthy and innovative low-GWP propellants for metered-dose inhalers. Orbia Fluorinated Solutions (Koura) has 1,600 employees and 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide, serving 60 countries through a global sales and distribution network.