The acquisition will accelerate the development and commercialisation of PULMOTREE's Kolibri™ Non-Propellant Liquid Inhaler platform, expanding Aptar Pharma's respiratory drug delivery portfolio and capabilities for complex inhaled therapies, including biologics.
Aptar Pharma has announced the strategic acquisition of PULMOTREE, a Munich-based life science company specialising in pulmonary drug delivery systems designed for targeted delivery to the lungs.
The acquisition is expected to accelerate the development, industrialisation and commercialisation of PULMOTREE's Kolibri™ Non-Propellant Liquid Inhaler (NPLI) platform, while strengthening Aptar Pharma's position in the respiratory drug delivery market.
The addition of Kolibri™ expands Aptar Pharma's technology portfolio with a differentiated inhalation platform designed to support increasingly complex therapies, including biologics and other advanced pharmaceutical formulations.
Kolibri™: Advancing Non-Propellant Inhalation Technology
PULMOTREE's Kolibri™ platform is based on a breath-triggered vibrating mesh aerosolisation technology. It incorporates specialised breath-guidance capabilities designed to support targeted aerosol delivery and improve deposition in the lungs.
Unlike conventional propellant-based inhalation systems, Non-Propellant Liquid Inhalers use liquid formulations to generate aerosols without relying on propellants. This technology encompasses delivery approaches such as nebulisers and soft-mist inhalers.
Kolibri™ also integrates advanced connectivity features designed to support treatment monitoring, patient engagement and the collection of real-world therapy insights.
These capabilities could help address the evolving requirements of inhaled drug delivery, particularly as pharmaceutical companies explore more complex formulations and biologic therapies for respiratory conditions.
Expanding Integrated Drug Development Capabilities
The acquisition builds on an exclusive collaboration agreement established between Aptar Pharma and PULMOTREE in 2024. Their partnership over the past two years has enabled pharmaceutical partners to evaluate the Kolibri™ platform and gain practical experience with the technology.
Following the acquisition, Aptar Pharma intends to combine the platform with its established capabilities in formulation development, device engineering, regulatory support, manufacturing and commercialisation.
The broader Aptar ecosystem also offers complementary expertise through:
- Nanopharm: Formulation development and analytical services.
- Noble: Human factors engineering, patient onboarding and training support.
- Aptar Digital Health: Digital health services designed to support patient engagement and treatment monitoring.
By bringing these capabilities together, Aptar Pharma aims to provide pharmaceutical partners with a more integrated development pathway, supporting projects from early formulation and device development through clinical evaluation and eventual market launch.
Strengthening the Future of Respiratory Drug Delivery
The acquisition reflects the growing importance of advanced inhalation technologies as pharmaceutical companies investigate new approaches to delivering complex molecules, including biologics, through the pulmonary route.
For drug developers, selecting an appropriate inhalation device involves more than aerosol generation. Formulation compatibility, delivery performance, patient usability, regulatory considerations and treatment monitoring all play important roles in successful product development.
With the addition of Kolibri™, Aptar Pharma aims to broaden the range of respiratory therapies it can support while creating new opportunities for collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The acquisition marks another strategic step in Aptar Pharma's efforts to strengthen its integrated drug delivery offering and advance technologies for the next generation of inhaled therapies.