30 Technology Submits Prospectus Highlighting Its Proprietary Nitric Oxide Platform and Strategic Pipeline Advancement Following £176M Asset Sale

Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial messenger and effector molecule in the human body, extensively involved in various physiological processes. As the mechanisms underlying NO’s physiological roles across multiple systems have been elucidated, it has emerged as one of the star molecules in biological research. Clinical studies have demonstrated that NO plays vital physiological functions in numerous systems, including the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, immune, nervous, circulatory, and urogenital systems. These functions encompass vasodilation, modulation of immune responses, acceleration of wound healing, and resistance to infection.

30 Technology is a UK-based biopharmaceutical company developing clinical nitric oxide (NO) generation technologies. The company’s proprietary NO generation platform enables the safe and sustained delivery of high-dose NO, suitable for a range of healthcare applications.

Recently, ConvaTec Group Plc announced the acquisition of 30 Technology’s antimicrobial nitric oxide (NO) technology platform, encompassing its wound care assets, research and development, and commercial applications. The initial consideration for this acquisition is £45 million. Subject to regulatory approvals in the United States and Europe and the achievement of commercial milestones, additional contingent payments could reach up to £131 million, bringing the total potential value to an estimated £176 million.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in enhancing immunity, tissue healing, and blood oxygenation. At high doses, NO acts as an effective antimicrobial agent against fungi, bacteria, and viruses. However, when administered as a gas at therapeutic doses, NO degrades into highly toxic byproducts, leading to severe complications and limiting its clinical utility.

In light of this characteristic, 30 Technology has successfully developed and patented a novel nitric oxide (NO) generation technology. This technology platform can generate NO in various forms—such as inhalable liquids, topical gels, powders, and nebulized solutions—and deliver it safely and sustainably to target sites, tailored to specific indications, dosages, and formulations.

A key feature of this platform is its ability to continuously generate high-dose nitric oxide (NO), with durations ranging from several hours to multiple days. This flexibility enables the realization of the technical potential for clinical applications of NO.

The efficacy of this technology platform has been validated in large-scale clinical trials and laboratory studies. Dermatological research has demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) therapy achieves superior healing outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers compared to current standard-of-care treatments. This study was published in the journal *Wound Repair and Regeneration*.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Nitric oxide (NO) therapy, unaffected by AMR, exerts direct antimicrobial effects and demonstrates a therapeutic modality with natural broad-spectrum antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities.

Taking 30 Technology’s key respiratory products as an example, RESP301 is an inhaled solution based on its nitric oxide (NO) generation formulation. It can directly generate NO at effective antimicrobial concentrations at the site of infection on the surface of lung tissue, providing potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The therapeutic mechanism of RESP301 lies in restoring pulmonary NO levels, thereby exerting a dual effect of killing viruses and bacteria while enhancing the host’s immune response to pathogenic microorganisms.

RESP301 is a mixed solution of two prodrugs that, after being combined at the point of care, can be administered immediately via inhalation using a handheld nebulizer. It offers distinct advantages in treating a range of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. In laboratory testing, RESP301 has also demonstrated potent activity against various influenza virus strains, rhinoviruses, and coronaviruses, as well as high in vitro activity against other respiratory pathogens, including both viruses and bacteria.

This drug was approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2021 to conduct Phase II clinical trials. RESP301 will be used to combat AMR bacteria, which are becoming increasingly common in chronic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, clinical trials for treating COVID-19 have been conducted.

The acquirer, Convatec Group Plc, is a global medical products and technology company focused on solutions for chronic disease management, with primary emphasis on advanced wound care, ostomy care, incontinence and critical care, and infusion therapy.

In line with Convatec’s strategic focus on infection prevention, protection of high-risk skin, and optimization of therapeutic outcomes, the acquired product line comprises the wound care business unit based on the antimicrobial nitric oxide (NO) technology platform. This unit includes all wound care assets, research and development as well as commercial applications related to the treatment of chronic and acute wounds, burns, and tissue repair, along with certain medical device applications. The wound care unit team from 30 Technology will be transferred to Convatec.

Convatec has expanded its wound care technology portfolio and product offerings through this acquisition. The development of this technology has now advanced to Phase III. Convatec expects to launch its first product based on this technology in 2025, while also exploring its potential applications in areas such as the prevention of urinary tract infections.

The sale of its technology platform has generated substantial financial returns for 30 Technology. These funds will support the accelerated development of an innovative and differentiated nitric oxide (NO) technology platform. 30 Technology will leverage NO technology to provide solutions in areas such as respiratory diseases, rare diseases, oral health, and ophthalmology. Research and development in these fields will remain within 30 Technology.

30 Technology Pipeline Deployment

Graphic: VCBeat

As its name suggests, 30 Technology was founded and has developed based on the commercialization of therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) technology, a scientific achievement originating from academic research.

Image source: 30 Technology official website

30 Technology was founded in 2018 by Professor Chris Wood, an Honorary Professor at Imperial College London and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and has attracted investment from Morningside Venture Capital and Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s national economic development agency.

Professor Chris Wood has over 20 years of experience in biotechnology and has founded and managed four companies, including Bioenvision and Medirace. Previously, he served as a Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Executive Chairman of Medannex Limited, and Executive Chairman of OncoBioPharm Limited. Until recently, he was a Non-Executive Director of MiNA Therapeutics.

In 2021, 30 Technology welcomed Dr. Syed Jafri as its Group Strategy Director and Chief Medical Officer.He previously served as Head of Clinical Development at Linde Healthcare, a leading global provider of solutions for respiratory diseases, where he led the launch of multiple respiratory and cardiovascular products, including inhaled nitric oxide (NO). He has over 20 years of experience in device development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals.

Furthermore, 30 Technology has established a specialized network of strategic alliances and a Scientific Advisory Board to continuously investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in human health and disease. Strategic alliance partners include Morningside Venture Capital, PPD, NHS, Imperial College London, and the University of Cambridge.

Currently, the clinical application of nitric oxide (NO) is dominated by inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy, which began to develop in the 1990s. iNO delivery systems have been proven effective in enhancing oxygenation and reducing pulmonary inflammation, and may help mitigate the severity of COVID-19 and improve patient outcomes. In the coming years, the acceptance of iNO as an effective non-invasive therapeutic alternative is expected to rise, driving continuous growth in its global market value. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases worldwide is also fueling the expansion of the iNO delivery system market.

GENOSYL DS, the first tank-free inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) delivery system approved by the FDA, is from VERO Biotech and is used to improve oxygenation in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Recently, its second-generation GENOSYL system has also received FDA approval for use in rebreathing anesthesia within operating room environments.

As R&D efforts continue to expand, the preparation methods and application areas of nitric oxide (NO) are being continuously updated. For example, Vast Therapeutics, which focuses on cystic fibrosis, has developed BIOC51, a synthetic powder that is mixed with saline and inhaled via a nebulizer to deliver NO directly to sites of pulmonary infection.

NOTA Labs, which holds two patented platform technologies, offers the portable LNO™ product that utilizes photoactivated chemistry to generate nitric oxide (NO) from a film coated with a proprietary chemical mixture. Its other product, the NOGEN™ system, is capable of continuously generating NO for up to six months through the electrochemical reduction of nitrites.

In China, Nuoling Biotech’s proprietary therapeutic device, the INOwill N200, received market approval in 2022. The INOwill N200 is capable of generating nitric oxide (NO) gas on demand and precisely regulating NO concentration. Additionally, Nuoling Biotech is developing related solutions, including an NO wound gas therapy device and an exhaled NO detector.

With the continuous advancement of diverse preparation protocols and multidisciplinary treatments, nitric oxide (NO) therapy is on an accelerated growth trajectory. Who will seize the first-mover advantage, and who will pioneer new therapeutic frontiers? Only time will tell.