Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. Signs New Development Services Deal With Indomo To Advance DT-001 Acne Treatment Into Phase 2 Prep

Lifecore Biomedical, Inc., a fully integrated injectables CDMO listed on NASDAQ as LFCR, has entered into a new development services agreement with Indomo, a clinical-stage company focused on improving access to quality healthcare through device-enabled therapeutics. Under this new agreement, Lifecore will provide a broad set of CDMO services to support the further development of Indomo’s corticosteroid drug candidate, DT-001. Indomo is developing DT-001 to work with its investigational intradermal self-injection device, the ClearPen, which is being designed as a convenient at-home treatment option for inflammatory acne lesions.

This agreement marks the second time Lifecore and Indomo have partnered. In their earlier collaboration, Lifecore was selected to handle formulation development and process optimization activities for the DT-001 program. The latest partnership expands Lifecore’s role, making the company responsible for producing and supplying both engineering and clinical batches of DT-001. These batches will be used in upcoming studies planned by Indomo, which are expected to support the drug’s advancement into Phase 2 clinical trials in 2026.

According to Lifecore president and chief executive officer Paul Josephs, the company is pleased to continue working with Indomo and support a team driven by strong leadership and significant innovation goals. He explained that this partnership also reflects Lifecore’s ongoing efforts to broaden its capabilities beyond its long-standing expertise in ophthalmic therapies, particularly as the company continues to expand in autoinjector technologies. Josephs added that the Lifecore team is enthusiastic about starting work on the engineering and clinical batches that will help Indomo prepare for the next phase of development.

Indomo’s ClearPen system has been created by a team with experience in medical devices, skincare, and consumer health. The system combines a proprietary microneedle-based self-injection device with an updated formulation of triamcinolone acetonide. This approach aims to deliver consistent dosing while allowing patients to administer treatment themselves at home, without relying on frequent in-office dermatology visits.

Triamcinolone acetonide has been used in clinical practice for more than 50 years and is known for its strong safety record. Intralesional corticosteroid injections using this drug are recommended as one of the first-line treatments for acne by the American Academy of Dermatology. Acne remains the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting around 50 million people each year. 

However, only about one million individuals receive corticosteroid injections regularly to treat inflammatory lesions. The main reason for this gap is limited access: with only about 12,000 dermatologists in the country, there is roughly one dermatologist available for every 28,000 Americans. Indomo aims to ease this challenge by offering an at-home option intended to give patients quicker and more convenient access to care.

Indomo’s chief executive officer, Rick Bente, noted that choosing the right CDMO partner was essential as the company moves closer to Phase 2 studies. He said that Lifecore’s expertise in injectable therapeutics, combined with its focus on innovation, quality, and speed, makes it a strong strategic partner. He added that the company looks forward to expanding the collaboration as the DT-001 program advances into its next stage of development.