What makes Aptar Pharma’s latest nasal drug delivery bet a potential market disruptor?

AptarGroup subsidiary Aptar Pharma has signed an exclusive partnership with French clinical-stage biotech firm Dianosic to co-develop an active resorbable intranasal scaffold (ARIS) platform for the treatment of chronic allergic rhinitis (CAR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Announced on September 5, 2025, the agreement also covers an investment stake in Dianosic, strengthening Aptar Pharma’s portfolio in long-duration nasal drug delivery systems.

The ARIS platform, designed as a drug-eluting bioresorbable insert, aims to deliver local, sustained-release therapeutics for patients suffering from persistent sinonasal conditions. Aptar Pharma’s strategic entry into this segment aligns with growing market demand for non-invasive drug delivery methods targeting respiratory and neurological disorders. Analysts see this collaboration as a strategic move by Aptar to diversify into next-generation nasal therapeutics, while expanding beyond traditional inhaler and spray systems.

Aptar Pharma, headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, will now hold a seat on Dianosic’s strategic committee and act as a commercialization partner for the ARIS technology, providing access to global pharmaceutical networks and leveraging its in-house capabilities in human factor studies, active material science, and regulatory support.

What is the ARIS platform and how does it aim to transform chronic nasal disease treatment?

The core of the collaboration centers around Dianosic’s ARIS system — a resorbable polymer-based intranasal scaffold that enables extended and controlled drug release directly within the nasal cavity. Designed for chronic allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, the ARIS insert offers what Dianosic calls a “plug-and-play” patient experience: the device is implanted once and gradually dissolves, eliminating the need for repeated administration.

This “insert and forget” concept addresses a key issue in chronic disease management — poor patient adherence. Unlike daily nasal sprays or systemic drugs, the scaffold offers passive, long-term dosing that requires no patient intervention after placement. By improving convenience and compliance, the platform has the potential to enhance both efficacy and quality-of-life outcomes for patients.

From a clinical standpoint, the platform also aims to meet physician demand for devices that combine precision delivery with safety and ease of use. Aptar Pharma believes that combining its expertise in nasal delivery mechanisms with Dianosic’s proprietary design could offer a high-value product for pharma partners targeting upper respiratory disorders.

Why is Aptar Pharma expanding into nasal delivery with bioresorbable platforms?

Aptar Pharma has long been a major player in drug delivery solutions, particularly in nasal, pulmonary, and injectable formats. With this deal, the company is doubling down on its focus on patient-centric, localized drug administration technologies. Aptar’s recent innovation push includes intranasal platforms for emergency and chronic use, many of which are marketed in partnership with major pharmaceutical players.

In partnering with Dianosic, Aptar Pharma is seeking to build on this leadership by entering the drug-eluting implant space—an emerging subsegment of intranasal therapeutics that enables continuous and localized delivery without relying on patient behavior. Industry analysts note this move follows broader trends in pharma device innovation, where companies are increasingly exploring bioresorbable implants and depot systems to improve outcomes and reduce treatment burden.

Aptar Pharma’s President of Prescription Division, Alex Theodorakis, described the partnership as an opportunity to bring “a transformative innovation” to the market, capable of enhancing chronic rhinitis and sinusitis management while supporting better long-term patient adherence.

How does the collaboration position Dianosic in the nasal therapeutics ecosystem?

Founded in 2017 and based in Strasbourg, France, Dianosic has positioned itself at the intersection of material science and therapeutic delivery. The company’s proprietary ARIS platform is protected by a strong intellectual property portfolio and is supported by public and private backers including Quest for Health, Bpifrance, Biovalley France, and several regional development banks.

Dianosic’s CEO and co-founder Philippe Bastide expressed confidence that the collaboration with Aptar Pharma would accelerate global access to the ARIS platform. The company sees the deal as validation of its clinical and commercial potential, particularly with Aptar’s regulatory and market-facing muscle now supporting the platform’s path to market.

This is not the first instance of Dianosic pursuing a strategic alliance. The French biotech has previously engaged with academic institutions and industrial partners to strengthen its development pipeline, including broader applications in central nervous system (CNS) disorders through intranasal drug pathways.

What future therapeutic areas are being explored under the Aptar–Dianosic partnership?

While the initial focus remains on chronic allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, the agreement opens the door for potential applications in Nose-to-Brain (N2B) delivery. Aptar Pharma and Dianosic are jointly exploring use cases for the ARIS scaffold in neurological indications—especially in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions where intranasal routes offer an attractive non-invasive alternative to systemic delivery.

The nose-to-brain route bypasses the blood–brain barrier, allowing for more direct access to the central nervous system. This delivery pathway is gaining momentum in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression treatments, especially for peptide-based or large-molecule drugs that have difficulty crossing the blood–brain barrier using conventional methods.

Aptar Pharma’s extended ecosystem—including its subsidiary Noble for human factor studies and onboarding, as well as Aptar CSP for active material technologies—positions the company well to scale these exploratory use cases into future platforms, subject to regulatory development and clinical validation.

What does this partnership signal for investors tracking Aptar Pharma and drug delivery innovation?

For institutional investors tracking AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR), the announcement signals a deeper commitment to platform-led, partnership-driven drug delivery innovation. Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the equity investment in Dianosic and technology co-development suggest a long-horizon strategy aimed at integrating disruptive delivery solutions into Aptar’s pharma vertical.

Given Aptar Pharma’s presence across regulated dosage forms and growing demand for patient-friendly delivery systems, analysts expect this partnership to expand Aptar’s total addressable market (TAM), especially within chronic disease management. While the ARIS platform remains in the clinical stage, the partnership reflects Aptar’s continued shift from component supplier to integrated solution provider in pharma services.

Investor sentiment toward AptarGroup has remained generally positive, with recent quarterly earnings showing stable performance in its pharma and beauty segments. The addition of advanced, bioresorbable platforms may also boost long-term positioning in high-margin, tech-enabled delivery markets.

What is the strategic outlook for intranasal platforms in chronic care delivery?

The Aptar–Dianosic partnership reinforces growing confidence in intranasal technologies as a scalable route for chronic and CNS therapies. Market momentum is expected to increase as pharmaceutical companies seek alternatives to injectables and oral therapies that pose adherence challenges or systemic side effects.

The success of the ARIS platform will depend not only on regulatory milestones and clinical trial data but also on how well it integrates into broader treatment regimens and payer models. If commercialized successfully, the “insert and forget” approach could reduce healthcare costs by lowering the frequency of patient–provider touchpoints, while improving quality-of-life outcomes.

As more device makers and biotech firms pursue similar implantable and resorbable formats, partnerships like Aptar and Dianosic’s may become a blueprint for co-developing tech-enabled therapies that blend convenience, compliance, and clinical efficacy in one delivery platform.