Bio‑Sourcing and Zerion Pharma have joined forces to develop the first oral formulation of an anti‑HER2 antibody for the treatment of HER2‑positive breast cancer. The collaboration has secured €1.3 million in funding under the Eurostars program to support preclinical development of the oral Trastuzumab candidate.

The project combines Bio‑Sourcing’s BioMilk platform, which uses natural milk components to protect and transport biologics through the gastrointestinal tract, with Zerion Pharma’s Dispersome solid oral‑dosage technology. Over 36 months, the consortium will optimise an orally deliverable trastuzumab biobetter produced in goat milk, progressing it through preclinical validation with the aim of entering Phase I clinical studies around 2030. Bio‑Sourcing acts as project lead, with Zerion as partner.

An effective oral therapy could reduce dependence on infusion centres, improving patient convenience, adherence, and access while lowering pressure on healthcare resources. The oral route also offers a platform for extending delivery to other biologics, with the global trastuzumab market projected at USD 4.1 billion by 2030.

Bertrand Mérot, CEO of Bio‑Sourcing, said: “We are delighted and very proud of Eurostars’ confirmation of the relevance of our unique strategy for oral administration of monoclonal antibodies. I am confident that our partnership with Zerion will further accelerate the development and commercialization of this disruptive formulation for breast cancer.

“The development of this breakthrough in the systemic oral administration of monoclonal antibodies will not only greatly improve patient comfort but also increase access to these innovative treatments, thereby significantly expanding the biopharmaceutical markets.”

Ole Wiborg, CEO of Zerion Pharma A/S, added: “We are excited and very pleased to obtain this Eurostars grant together with Bio‑Sourcing. I believe that our joint project holds a significant promise for improving the treatment of breast cancer patients and will further open up a plethora of additional opportunities for switching injectables to orally administered drugs.

“This blue stamping from EUREKA is also another recognition of our Dispersome technology and our excellent team of scientists that has relentlessly transformed great academic science into a commercially successful technology. I am grateful for that.”

Eurostars, part of the Horizon Europe framework, supports innovative SMEs and project partners in international collaborative R&D. It is managed by EUREKA, an intergovernmental network spanning 37 countries, and aims to accelerate the translation of research into commercially viable solutions.