Hovione Technology Granted Patent for Deagglomeration Method

Hovione Technology announced on Feb. 3, 2021 that it has received a grant for a patent describing an innovative method to improve particle size analysis methods by laser diffraction.

The patent, which covers a method that solves the problem of ensuring machine-to-machine test result reproducibility, has been granted or allowed in the US, Europe, Japan, and China. The solution requires an understanding of the process of deagglomerating powder particles before laser diffraction analysis, Hovione said in a company press release. Scientists at the company learned that deagglomeration techniques lose efficacy through equipment wear over time and developed a tactic that compensates for the wear and prepares an ideal sample for each particle size test.

“For years we had problems where the same batch of powder gave different results when tested in different laser diffraction testing machines, and this led to serious issues and challenges during method transfer,” said Constança Cacela, director of Analytical Development at Hovione, in the press release. “Drugs known to agglomerate, particularly fine powders used for inhaled pulmonary delivery, were a problem to test. We have implemented the improved method in different machines of different analytical laboratories, and everyone is now getting the same test data.”

“We saw the IP [intellectual property] potential of Hovione’s invention and went ahead with patent filing and prosecution. Even though our application went through vigorous scrutiny and an objection from a third party, it has now proceeded to grant in all jurisdictions where it was filed,” said Peter Villax, CEO of Hovione Technology, in the press release. “These patents are now being offered for licensing to several manufacturers of laser diffraction particle sizing machines and they could have an impact on this market.”

Source: Hovione