CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — September 14, 2026
Aptar Pharma and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) announced a research collaboration led by Alice Stanton, PhD, to advance the science of nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery and establish a predictive, data-driven development pathway for central nervous system therapies. The collaboration will combine in vitro, in vivo and computational technologies to investigate the mechanisms, pathways and kinetics involved in transporting medicines from the nasal cavity to the brain. The research will evaluate a broad range of molecular classes and physicochemical properties to better determine which drug candidates may be suitable for N2B delivery. Aptar said the goal is to help pharmaceutical innovators evaluate opportunities earlier in development, support candidate selection and accelerate future CNS pipelines. The initiative addresses a major development challenge for neurological medicines, where the blood-brain barrier can restrict delivery of potentially useful therapeutic compounds.
Integrated Platform Targets Predictive Nose-to-Brain Screening
The collaboration is designed to develop a New Approach Methodology (NAM) capable of quantitatively characterizing nose-to-brain transport and improving the translation of preclinical findings into development decisions. Researchers will investigate which molecular characteristics influence N2B transport and how experimental findings can be used to better predict potential human outcomes. The resulting platform is intended to help pharmaceutical developers screen compounds for N2B suitability, inform formulation decisions and guide nasal-device design earlier in the drug-development process. Aptar said the approach is aligned with growing interest in alternative research methodologies and the U.S. FDA’s support for NAM-based development approaches. By bringing together biological, computational and engineering components, the collaboration seeks to create a more systematic framework for evaluating intranasal CNS candidates rather than relying primarily on conventional trial-and-error development. Such a platform could support development programs targeting neurological conditions where effective delivery to the brain remains a significant challenge..
Aptar Brings Advanced Nasal Delivery Technologies
Aptar contributes decades of nasal drug-delivery research and approximately 30 years of related field data to the collaboration, including technologies designed to target the upper nasal cavity. Its Cerespray™ and Neurospray™ platforms are intended to support precise deposition in regions associated with potential nose-to-brain transport. The company plans to integrate its nasal delivery systems into the emerging N2B research platform to help connect molecule selection with formulation and device considerations. Interest in direct nose-to-brain delivery has increased as researchers explore potential approaches for diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and depression. While previous research has demonstrated that direct transport from the nasal cavity to the brain can occur, important questions remain around the molecules that are best suited to the pathway, the physicochemical properties that drive transport and the ability of preclinical models to predict human performance. Aptar and MGH aim to address these questions through a combined translational research framework.
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Collaboration Supports Future CNS Development Programs
The Aptar-MGH initiative is intended to create long-term tools for pharmaceutical innovators developing CNS medicines through the nose-to-brain route. The Stanton Lab at MGH combines neurogenetics, omics and cell biology with technologies spanning nanotechnology, machine learning, microfluidics, microphysiological systems, biomaterials engineering and tissue-engineered organoids. Combining these capabilities with Aptar’s nasal delivery expertise could provide a broader research foundation for evaluating future N2B programs. Aptar said the collaboration is designed to transform nose-to-brain delivery from a promising concept into a more predictable and data-driven development pathway, potentially enabling earlier decisions on candidate suitability and delivery-system requirements. The resulting NAM is expected to support multiple future CNS development programs, although its predictive performance and eventual acceptance by pharmaceutical developers or regulators will need to be established through further research. For Aptar Pharma, the collaboration strengthens its position at the intersection of nasal drug delivery, translational research and next-generation CNS therapeutic development.
Source:Aptar Pharma press release
