An Interview with Antonio Francesco Di Naro for the C Suite Feature of Sanità33, by Ludovico Baldessin
From pioneering single-use technologies for manufacturing biological drugs to achieving a global patent leadership in preparing cytotoxic drugs by lyophilizing them directly in ready-to-use multi-chamber bags: these are some of the innovations defining the history of ADIENNE Pharma & Biotech. The company specializes in developing solutions that support hospital pharmacists who frequently handle cytotoxic oncology drugs. Antonio Francesco Di Naro, founder and president of the Italian company, shares insights into ADIENNE’s mission to “treat an increasing number of oncology patients at home,” as he emphasizes to Sanità33.
“ADIENNE has brought significant technological innovation over the past 20 years,” explains Di Naro. “Notably, the formulation of cytotoxic drugs, lyophilized directly in ready-to-use plastic bags, marks a critical advancement for hospital pharmacists specializing in onco-hematology. Moreover, I hope that in the future, thanks to these formulations, some oncology patients can be treated at home.” This technology is applicable to both pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and the bags provide enhanced drug stability compared to lyophilized drugs in glass vials currently available on the market, Di Naro adds.
ADIENNE is also deeply involved in the industrialization of products used in bone marrow transplantation.
The company has completed Phase II clinical development of a monoclonal antibody, already designated as an orphan drug in both the United States and Europe, for treating graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in bone marrow transplants. Additionally, “we are pursuing research projects in collaboration with Italian and international universities,” concludes Di Naro.