BioNanoSim

What BioNanoSim does

BioNanoSim (BNS) Ltd. is a Jerusalem-based pharmaceutical company that applies proprietary nano-encapsulation and nanocarrier technology to reformulate existing drugs, aiming to improve potency, bioavailability, and tolerability while reducing side effects. The company operates across four therapeutic verticals: Ophthalmology (its historical anchor, based on founder-developed Ikervis for dry eye syndrome, acquired by Santen in 2015), Obesity (peripheral CB1 receptor targeting without psychiatric effects), Oncology (redesigned platinum IV anticancer drugs), and Cannabis (topical CBD nano-encapsulation for dermatological use). Its core technology encompasses nano-in-micro delivery systems for peptides, topical nanocapsule platforms, and broader nano-encapsulation methods, supported by 5 patent families licensed exclusively from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and founder Prof. Simon Benita's personal portfolio of 35 patents.

The company maintains an in-house 450 m² GMP facility and API laboratory enabling independent manufacturing of nanocarrier-based candidates for clinical testing, and it conducts research in collaboration with TAM Lab and Hebrew University. Notable published technical outcomes include oral exenatide bioavailability of approximately 77% versus subcutaneous injection and collagen synthesis up to 42% higher with DHEA nanocapsules 48 hours post-topical application.

BioNanoSim's business model is B2B-oriented and centered on licensing and co-development partnerships with pharmaceutical companies rather than direct commercialization. The company is privately held under Israeli law with 11-50 employees, has not publicly disclosed funding rounds or revenue, and relies on its corporate website, scientific publications, and academic affiliations for market visibility. Pricing and commercial terms are not publicly disclosed and would be negotiated through partnership agreements.

Name

BioNanoSim

Legal name

BioNanoSim (BNS) Ltd.

Website

https://bionanosim.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioNanoSim is a Jerusalem-based pharmaceutical company that uses proprietary nano-encapsulation technology to reformulate existing drugs for improved delivery and efficacy across ophthalmology, obesity, oncology, and cannabis therapeutic areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical R&D

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals & Specialty Bioactives (EUAAAIAK), Biologics (mAbs/Recombinant Proteins) CDMO (HLAGABAC)

Keywords

• Nanocarrier drug delivery
• Nano-encapsulation pharmaceuticals
• Drug reformulation technology
• Pharmaceutical R&D services
• Nanotechnology drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BioNanoSim develops and applies proprietary nano-encapsulation (nanocarrier) technology to reformulate existing drugs, improving their delivery, stability, potency, and safety profiles. The company operates across four therapeutic verticals — Ophthalmology (with Ikervis as the commercially validated product for dry eye syndrome), Obesity, Oncology, and Cannabis — redesigning active pharmaceutical ingredients to enable new routes of administration and create new chemical entities. BioNanoSim operates an in-house 450 m² GMP facility for manufacturing nanocarrier-based drugs for clinical testing and partners with pharmaceutical companies to commercialize reformulated products.

Product overview

BioNanoSim operates as a multi-vertical nanotechnology pharmaceutical company built on proprietary nano-encapsulation (nanocarrier) technology. The company offers a unified platform spanning four therapeutic areas: Ophthalmology (with Ikervis as the commercialized flagship product for dry eye syndrome), Obesity, Oncology, and Cannabis. These platforms enable the company to reformulate existing drugs for improved delivery and potency, design new routes of administration, and create new therapeutic products and new chemical entities. The portfolio ranges from quick-to-market reformulations to novel drug development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ikervis (Inkervis) A revolutionary nano-encapsulation-based treatment for dry eye syndrome (DES) developed using proprietary nanocarrier technology; acquired by Santen Pharmaceutical and launched in 2015, where it has become an established market leader in Europe.
• Nano-encapsulation Technology Platform Proprietary nano-encapsulation (nanocarrier) drug delivery platform exclusively licensed from Hebrew University, enabling reformulation of existing drugs for improved delivery, potency, and safety; supports development of new routes of administration and new chemical entities across ophthalmology, obesity, oncology, and cannabis verticals. Licensed to pharmaceutical partners for co-development and commercialization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Oral bioavailability of exenatide improved to approximately 77% compared to subcutaneous injection
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.majorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2015Ikervis, a treatment for dry eye syndrome developed using BioNanoSim's nano-emulsion technology, was acquired and launched by Santen in 2015. Ikervis is now an established market leader in Europe, representing a successful commercialization of the company's technology platform.
• Hebrew University of JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive license agreements covering multiple nanocarrier technologies developed at Hebrew University. Prof. Benita served as Head of the School of Pharmacy at Hebrew University. The company is affiliated with HUJI and operates from the Jerusalem BioPark on the campus.
• TAM LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with TAM Lab (evidenced by logo on homepage). TAM Lab collaborates on nanocarrier technology development and evaluation.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ocular Therapeutix: US-based ophthalmic drug delivery company developing sustained-release and improved topical formulations for eye diseases—directly comparable to BioNanoSim's ophthalmology vertical reformulating drugs for ocular delivery.
• Starpharma Holdings: Australia-based dendrimer nanotech platform company developing improved pharmaceutical, drug-delivery, and agrochemical products—an analogous platform-licensing model using nanoscale carriers for reformulation across multiple verticals.
• Acuitas Therapeutics: Vancouver-based lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug delivery specialist that partners with vaccine and therapeutic developers (notably Pfizer-BioNTech for COVID-19)—comparable to BioNanoSim as a nanocarrier platform enabler serving partner pipelines.
• Camurus: Sweden-based specialty pharma built on a proprietary lipid nanocarrier (FluidCrystal) platform that reformulates and improves delivery of drugs across multiple therapeutic areas—directly analogous to BioNanoSim's nano-encapsulation platform model.
• Novaliq: Berlin-based ophthalmology-focused drug delivery company using water-free, nano-enabled formulations to improve ocular bioavailability—closely comparable to BioNanoSim's ophthalmology vertical and reformulation approach.
• Nanoform Finland: Finnish nanoparticle-enabled drug delivery company applying proprietary nanonization to improve bioavailability and formulation of small-molecule APIs—a direct functional analog of BioNanoSim's nano-encapsulation reformulation work.

Emerging players

• Precision Nanosystems (Cytiva): Vancouver-based (now part of Cytiva/Danaher) developer of microfluidic-based nanomedicine manufacturing platforms and LNP technologies—relevant as a nanodrug-delivery infrastructure peer with adjacent enabling technology.
• Selecta Biosciences (Cartesian Therapeutics): Clinical-stage nanotech platform company developing immunomodulatory nanoparticle therapeutics; comparable as a platform-based nanomedicine company but operating in immunology rather than BioNanoSim's reformulation verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Santen Pharmaceutical: Japanese ophthalmology-focused specialty pharma that acquired and launched Ikervis in 2015—BioNanoSim's prior commercialization partner and a relevant broad incumbent serving the same ophthalmic end-market as BioNanoSim's lead vertical.
• Bausch + Lomb (Bausch Health): Global ophthalmology incumbent with broad dry-eye, surgical, and pharmaceutical franchises—relevant incumbent competing in BioNanoSim's core ophthalmology vertical with far greater scale and commercial reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bionanosim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BioNanoSim