SoftOx announces HOCl stability breakthrough for cystic fibrosis therapy

SoftOx Solutions AS announced a significant breakthrough in the stability of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the core component of its inhaled therapy (SIS), through a preformulation study published in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. The study, co-authored by SoftOx's industrial PhD candidate, demonstrated that storing HOCl as a powdered calcium hypochlorite precursor and generating it on demand overcomes previous stability limitations for higher-strength HOCl formulations. This powdered form maintained high stability for at least 24 months at approximately 23 °C when stored dry, showing ≤5% degradation, and achieved ≥99% conversion to HOCl within seconds upon activation.

chief executive Thomas Bjarnsholt highlighted these findings as validating the foundation of SoftOx's inhaled SIS program and marking a pivotal moment for the company. This breakthrough supports SoftOx's strategic decision to initiate its first proof-of-concept (PoC) trial in people with cystic fibrosis, planned for Q1 2026.

The upcoming PoC trial aims to evaluate safety at higher doses in healthy volunteers and demonstrate bacterial load reduction in patients with cystic fibrosis. Positive results from this trial would pave the way for broader indications, including non-CF bronchiectasis.