Nona Biosciences and Lonza Enter Strategic Collaboration to Develop Best-in-Class Single-Domain Antibody-Based BBB-Crossing Technology for CNS Diseases

July 2, 2026 - 05:40

Nona Biosciences, a global biotechnology company focused on biologic drug discovery, has announced a new strategic partnership with Lonza. The collaboration aims to develop advanced single-domain antibody technology designed to cross the blood-brain barrier for treating central nervous system diseases.

The blood-brain barrier is a protective shield that prevents most drugs from reaching the brain, making it a major obstacle in treating conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological disorders. By combining Nona's expertise in antibody discovery with Lonza's manufacturing and development capabilities, the two companies hope to create what they call a best-in-class solution for delivering therapies directly to the brain.

Single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, are smaller and more stable than conventional antibodies. Their structure makes them promising candidates for crossing biological barriers. The partnership aims to engineer these molecules to specifically target receptors on the blood-brain barrier, allowing them to shuttle therapeutic payloads into the central nervous system.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Both companies stated that the collaboration will focus on early-stage research and development, with the goal of advancing the technology toward clinical applications. The deal reflects growing industry interest in finding effective ways to treat brain diseases, which have historically been difficult to address with traditional drug delivery methods.