In this interview, we speak with Bryan Mazlish, CEO of Surf Bio, about their innovative SnapShotÔ technology. Bryan discusses how the platform addresses challenges in biologic delivery, its appeal to pharmaceutical companies, and its potential to enhance global healthcare accessibility.
Moe Alsumidaie: What challenges in biologic delivery does SnapShot address, and how does it simplify treatment for patients and providers?
Bryan: The delivery of biologic therapies has traditionally required hospital visits for intravenous infusions, which is very burdensome for patients and healthcare systems. With the number of biologics increasing from a couple dozen to about 200 in the last decade and a projected tenfold increase in the coming years, the current system is unsustainable. Surf Bio’s SnapShot technology aims to address these challenges by facilitating subcutaneous administration, which is simpler and more accessible. This shift alleviates the burden on
infusion centers and enhances patient convenience, allowing them to manage their treatments at-home and more effectively. This approach aligns with industry trends toward patient-centric solutions, offering a more efficient and convenient way to administer biologics.
Moe Alsumidaie: Why is SnapShot attractive to pharma companies, and what collaborations are you seeking?
Bryan: The competitive landscape for biologics is intensifying, with numerous pharma and biotech companies racing to bring new therapies to market. To stand out, companies need a robust subcutaneous delivery strategy. SnapShot offers a competitive edge by simplifying the administration process, which patients and providers increasingly demand. The technology supports the simplest and most efficient subcutaneous delivery method: simple pre-filled syringe delivered via auto-injectors. Surf Bio’s business model is designed to partner with active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers, enabling them to deliver their therapies more conveniently and accessibly. This approach enhances market competitiveness and aligns with the industry’s shift towards patient-centric solutions. By collaborating with API manufacturers, we aim to facilitate the delivery of innovative therapies, ensuring they are accessible and convenient for patients.
Moe Alsumidaie: How does the SnapShot platform work, and what sets it apart from other systems?
Bryan: The primary challenge in subcutaneous administration is delivering high doses in small volumes without causing pain. SnapShot overcomes this by using a proprietary polymer to create highly concentrated, injectable particles, allowing for high-dose delivery in a compact form. Unlike other technologies that rely on proprietary processes, Surf Bio’s differentiation lies in its novel polymer, simplifying the manufacturing process and enhancing the drug’s injectability. This unique approach sets Surf Bio apart and makes it an attractive option for pharma companies looking to streamline their delivery systems. By focusing on a novel polymer rather than a complex process, we offer a more straightforward and efficient solution for subcutaneous delivery, making it easier for pharma companies to adopt and integrate the SnapShot delivery technology into their existing systems.
Moe Alsumidaie: How do standard manufacturing techniques benefit SnapShot’s scalability and partner adoption?
Bryan: By leveraging a novel polymer rather than a novel process, SnapShot can be manufactured using existing, standard techniques. This eliminates the need for bespoke manufacturing facilities, making the technology more scalable and easier to adopt. Surf Bio’s model allows partners to integrate manufacturing within their facilities or through contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). This flexibility particularly appeals to pharma companies, as it enables them to wholly maintain control over their commercial manufacturing processes, facilitating broader adoption and scalability. By providing a scalable solution that can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing and quality processes, we enable our partners to produce and deliver high-quality biologics to patients efficiently.
Moe Alsumidaie: How does SnapShot enhance global access to biologics, especially in low-income countries?
Bryan: In many developing regions, the infrastructure for infusion-based therapies is limited or nonexistent, making self-administration a critical factor in increasing access to biologics. SnapShot’s formulations will enable patients to self-administer their treatments, significantly expanding access. Additionally, the technology offers improved stability over traditional aqueous formulations, potentially reducing the need for stringent cold-chain logistics. This resilience to cold chain interruptions is particularly beneficial in low and middle-income countries, where maintaining consistent refrigeration can be challenging. By addressing these barriers, SnapShot has the potential to make biologic therapies more accessible and equitable globally. By reducing the need for complex logistics and enabling self-administration, our SnapShot technology may help patients in underserved regions gain access to novel, needed therapies.
Moe Alsumidaie: In closing, can you elaborate on the science behind achieving high-dose concentrations with SnapShot and what it means for the industry?
Bryan: The key to achieving such high concentrations lies in the proprietary polymer used in SnapShot. This polymer allows for the formulation of high-dose biologics in a small volume, which can be delivered through a simple auto-injector. This capability makes innovative therapies more accessible and manageable for patients and providers. As the demand for convenient and efficient drug delivery solutions grows, Surf Bio’s technology positions itself as a vital tool for API manufacturers looking to stay competitive in the evolving market landscape. By enabling high-dose delivery in a compact form, we provide a solution that meets the needs of patients and providers, ensuring that innovative therapies are accessible and broadly adopted.
Moe Alsumidaie, MBA, MSF, is founder and Chief Editor of Vanguard Publications, which publishes Clinical Trial Vanguard, Pharma Vanguard and BullScope, and Head of Research at CliniBiz. He has two decades in clinical trial operations and data science, with earlier roles at Genentech, Abbott Vascular and Stanford University Medical Center, and is a guest lecturer in clinical trial sciences at Rutgers University.
