Robert Rönn, SVP and Head of R&D: “My vision is to develop several new drugs based on amorphOX™”

In recent years, Orexo has invested in its development pipeline with a focus on OX124, a life-saving overdose medication. In parallel, the company has developed a new drug delivery platform, amorphOX™, that will serve as the backbone in other future pharmaceuticals. In an interview with Robert Rönn, SVP and Head of Research and Development at Orexo, he reflects on creating pioneering pharmaceuticals, filing successful patents and his vision for the new drug delivery platform.

How does R&D work at Orexo?

At Orexo we have a strong track-record of developing products that have been approved on multiple markets. Actually it’s about a continuous cycle of discovery, research, evaluation and innovation across our teams. Our people are our strength, we have a highly skilled team developing pioneering pharmaceuticals with the potential to change lives. Orexo’s open-minded culture sparks creativity across the organization. As a small company, we value one another and understand that joint efforts are key to success.

When I started in the industry and I was doing my first experiments, I remember the moment someone came in and asked me about what I was doing. It gave me so much energy. I truly enjoy data, research and evaluating results so I try to be as involved as possible and have those conversations with the team.

I’m curious and I want to be visible, but I aim to give everyone as much freedom and responsibility as possible. Good leadership is about inspiring and empowering others.

How do you protect your innovations? 

My role is about taking a step back from the day-to-day research. One of my focus areas are patents and intellectual property litigation globally, giving me a thorough understanding of how we best can protect our next products.

Our biggest success to date is with ZUBSOLV®, for the treatment of opioid dependence, which has patent protection until 2032. This was an extremely important win in the US Court of Appeals and underlines our capabilities and determination not only to develop but also to safeguard our innovations.

Filing and defending a patent is complex as you need to know how to conduct the appropriate experiments, iterate on your R&D and navigate international legal frameworks. It’s taught me the kinds of studies we should include in our patent applications and what to consider throughout to mitigate any future challenges.

You have been involved in the development of a new drug delivery platform, amorphOX™. Tell us about that?

Our studies show amorphOX™ among others provides for rapid absorption with good tolerance. The platform works with different APIs and its stability offers practical benefits for storage, distribution and administration.

OX124 (naloxone) was our first drug based on the amorphOX™ platform. OX124 is a life-saving medication developed to reverse opioid overdoses caused by synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, and we’re close to filing it for approval in the US. It has significant commercial prospects and our team in the US is preparing to bring this life-saving medication to the market in 2023.

What’s your vision for the next few years?

My vision is to develop several new drugs based on this novel technology. Our current pipeline projects, OX124, OX125 (nalmefene) and OX640 (nasal adrenaline) are all grounded within the amorphOX™ platform, each offering significant therapeutic potential. OX640 is our newest product candidate and we’re planning a first clinical study in humans in mid next year.

As a researcher, I am always thinking about the next generation of products and technologies. I see significant opportunities beyond the substance abuse field. It’s an exciting time for Orexo and I’m proud to work with such a highly experienced and engaged team.