Technology name
Last update: Jun 2026POZ™ polymer LAI
Developer(s)
Sponsor(s)
Not specified
Type of technology
Polymer-based particles, Monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates
Administration route
Subcutaneous
Development state and regulatory approval
apomorphine
Not provided
Under clinical investigation
Description
The POZ platform technology is based on poly(2-oxazoline), a water-soluble, low-viscosity polymer designed to enable the sustained delivery of drugs with narrow therapeutic indices. Although initially developed for small-molecule applications, the platform is adaptable to a broad range of substrates, including proteins, lipid nanoparticles, and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). The release kinetics of the API can be modulated through deliberate structural modifications of the POZ polymer, allowing fine control over drug release rates. This results in a near-liner PK profile of the API.
Developer(s)
Serina Therapeutics
Serina Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops next-generation polymer science to optimize drug delivery. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, the company primarily targets neurological diseases, central nervous system (CNS) indications, and pain management. It has a proprietary polymer platform technology which is under clincial investigations.
Technology highlight
1) Non-immunogenic 2) Simple one pot synthesis of the POZ polymer 3) Higher API loading capacity 4) Customizable PK profiling by modulating the polymer characteristics
Illustration(s)
Technology main components
POZ is connected to API via pendant groups and a degradable linker. Components of POZ drug conjugate includes: 1) Poly 2-oxazoline (POZ) polymer backbone 2) API (small molecules, proteins and peptides) 3) Linker (eg: 3‑propionate, carboxylate ester, carbonate ester, carbamate, amid, disulfide, peptides) 4) Pendant groups (eg: R, X) - i) hydrophobic pendant group ii) hydrophilic pendant group 5) Solvents / vehicles (Water, saline, oils) 6) Solid carriers (Gum acacia, gelatin, starch paste, talc, keratin, colloidal silica, urea 7) Functional excipients (formulation aids)- Stabilizers, Thickening agents, Lubricating agents, Flavoring agents
Not available
Delivery device(s)
Not provided
APIs compatibility profile
API list includes, but is not limited to, a therapeutic agent (such as but not limited to a drug), a diagnostic agent, and an organic small molecule. Further API can be hydrophobic in nature. Typically, a hydrophilic APIs with one or more oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and/or phosphorous atoms and/or one or more polar covalent bonds can also be encorporated into POZ conjugated complex. Compounds such as apomorphine, buprenorphine, rotigotine, dexanabinol, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, and other dopamine agonists are the first choice for POZ technology.
Not provided
Not provided
75-90 wt%
1 single API :
Min: 0.5 Max: 8
Scale-up and manufacturing prospects
The main synthesis and development of the proprietary POZ polymers occur at their Huntsville, Alabama laboratory, United States of America.
1. Standard organic synthesis reactors (flasks/reactors) 2. Magnetic/overhead stirrers 3. Temperature-controlled reaction baths 4. Dropping funnels / dosing pumps 5. pH adjustment setup (pH meter)
1. POZ polymer synthesis: Initiator (e.g., HOTf or alkyl initiator); organic solvent (e.g., chlorobenzene) ~80 °C 2. Introduction of functional (pendant) groups 3. Polymer termination 4. Drug–linker synthesis 5. Conjugation (key step): Click chemistry (Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition) 6. Purification
1. GPC (Gel permeation chromatography) → MW, PDI 2. ¹H NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Chromatography) → drug loading, structure 3. HPLC/LC-MS (High Permeation Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry)
Excipients
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Additional features
- Biodegradable
API release occurs via slow hydrolysis of the POZ–drug linker. The release rate is governed by: (i) polymer conformation, where a compact structure reduces water/enzyme access and prolongs t½, while a loose structure accelerates release; (ii) polymer molecular weight, with >20 kDa increasing steric shielding and t½, and <20 kDa enabling faster hydrolysis; and (iii) linker structure, where steric and electronic properties modulate hydrolytic stability and thus drug release kinetics.
Yes. POZ platform can be adminstered through subcutaneous and intramuscular routes
No safety data has been reported yet.
The stability of the POZ polymer in the human plasma is approximately 55 hours (more exposed systems) upto 87 hours (more shielded systems).
No stability and storage studies have been conducted yet.
Therapeutic area(s)
- Mental health : "Schizophrenia, Tardive Dyskinesia & Huntington’s Chorea"
- Treatment
Potential associated API(s)
- apomorphine
- SER-270
- Monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates
- small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) , C-FNP (Chemosensitizing siRNA) , T-FNP (Immune-modulating siRNA) , microRNAs
Use of technology
- Self-administered
- To be determined
- Administered by a community health worker
- Administered by a nurse
- Administered by a specialty health worker
Weekly
Not provided
Targeted user groups
- Adults
- All
Unspecified
Unspecified
Unspecified
Not provided
apomorphine
Dopamine agonists
Not provided
NCT07422675
Parkinson’s Disease
Adults (40-80 years of age) with idiopathic Parkinson's disease
Once weekly
Under clinical investigation
SER-270
VMAT2 inhibitor
Not provided
Not provided
Tardive Dyskinesia & Huntington’s Chorea
Not provided
Once weekly
Under clinical investigation
Monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates
Antibody drug conjugates
Pre-clinical
Not provided
Cancer therapy
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) , C-FNP (Chemosensitizing siRNA) , T-FNP (Immune-modulating siRNA) , microRNAs
RNA therapeutics
Pre-clinical
Not provided
Gene therapy, antinfectious diseases, cancer-immunotherapy
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Polyoxazoline-lipid conjugates and lipid nanoparticles and pharmaceutical compositions including same
POZ - lipid conjugates and lipid nanoparticles ( LNPs ) including POZ - lipid conjugates used to facilitate delivery of an encapsulated payload . LNPs including POZ - lipid conjugates and a nucleic acid payload such as , but not limited to, mRNA or modified mRNA are disclosed . Such LNPs have no immunogenicity or reduced immunogenicity as compared to a coorresponding LNP containing a PEG-lipid. pared to a corresponding LNP containing a PEG - lipid
US20220249695A1
Composition
Serina Therapeutics Inc
Not provided
May 23, 2042
Active
Subcutaneous delivery of poly(oxazoline) polymer conjugates
The present disclosure provides polymer conjugates comprising a polymer and an agent, the agent linked to the polymer via a linking group containing a hydrolyzable moiety
US11224595B2
Composition
Serina Therapeutics Inc
Not provided
June 18, 2032
Active
Publications
There are no publication
Additional documents
No documents were uploaded
Useful links
There are no additional links
Collaborate for development
Consider on a case by case basis, collaborating on developing long acting products with potential significant public health impact, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), utilising the referred to long-acting technology
Share technical information for match-making assessment
Provide necessary technical information to a potential partner, under confidentiality agreement, to enable preliminary assessment of whether specific medicines of public health importance in LMICs might be compatible with the referred to long-acting technology to achieve a public health benefit
Work with MPP to expand access in LMICs
In the event that a product using the referred to long-acting technology is successfully developed, the technology IP holder(s) will work with the Medicines Patent Pool towards putting in place the most appropriate strategy for timely and affordable access in low and middle-income countries, including through licensing
