While part of the team last week was at EuroCD, Tamas Kiss, PhD was also busy.
We had the privilege to present interesting applications of cyclodextrins in the Annual Symposium on Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, organized by the Hungarian Chemical Society.
The lecture presented several fascinating cyclodextrin applications, such as:
1. Cyclarity Therapeutics’ solution for reversing arteriosclerosis with a cyclodextrin dimer (they are in Clinical Phase 1)
2. Oculis’ formulation that contains gamma-cyclodextrin-dexamethasone suspension, which could be an alternative to the intravitreal injection (Clinical Phase 3 completed)
3. Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP’s gel, which binds the toxic vapour (e.g., lindane) that is released from wood preservatives widespread in Germany
From September 9–12, 2025, the 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference (EuroCD 2025) brought together 160 scientists from 27 countries and 4 continents at the Politecnico di Milano. Over four days, we experienced cutting-edge lectures, vibrant poster sessions, and inspiring discussions on how cyclodextrins continue to shape pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial innovation.
For CarboHyde, the conference was filled with pride, learning, and unforgettable moments.
The Thorsteinn Loftsson Award: Honoring Milo Malanga
One of the most emotional highlights was seeing our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Milo Malanga, receive the very first Thorsteinn Loftsson Award in cyclodextrin chemistry.
Milo’s contributions to the field—spanning green and sustainable cyclodextrin syntheses, scalable industrial processes, and the translation of CD-based innovations into real-world applications—are widely recognized. Beyond his scientific impact, Milo embodies kindness, creativity, and support for the entire community.
In his keynote lecture, “Greener Rings: Sustainable Strategies for Cyclodextrin Derivatives” Milo showed how industrial CD synthesis can be both efficient and environmentally responsible. His message was clear: sustainability is not an option—it is the way forward.
No one deserves this recognition more, and we could not be prouder to see Milo’s lifelong dedication honored in such a meaningful way.
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The CarboHyde Poster Prize: Encouraging Industrial Relevance
For the first time, CarboHyde had the honor of awarding the CarboHyde Poster Prize for the industrially most relevant work.
The prize went to Brandon Childers (NCIMB Ltd.) for his pioneering technology enabling the production of 5-membered cyclodextrin rings. This breakthrough opens up entirely new chemical spaces and potential applications for CDs, reminding us how much innovation can still be unlocked in this fascinating field.
As Tamas Sohajda, CarboHyde’s CEO, remarked during the award ceremony: “It is our mission to bridge academic breakthroughs and industrial needs. This poster prize is our way to recognize and encourage work that has the potential to make cyclodextrins part of tomorrow’s solutions.”
Celebrating the Conference Prizes
In addition to the CarboHyde Poster Prize, two further awards highlighted the talent and creativity of young researchers in the cyclodextrin community:
Best Poster Presentation: Bertalan Varga (BME Budapest) was recognized for his outstanding scientific poster, which combined clarity, originality, and strong research impact.
Best Flash Presentation: Ruigi Jing (Aalborg University) delivered the most engaging and insightful flash talk, showing how complex cyclodextrin science can be communicated with clarity and enthusiasm.
These recognitions underline the vibrant future of cyclodextrin research, driven by the next generation of talented scientists.
CarboHyde’s Scientific Contributions
Our team also had the pleasure of actively contributing to the scientific program:
Milo Malanga introduced an industrial, green, and sustainable perspective to CD synthesis.
Balázs Attila Kondoros showcased state-of-the-art cyclodextrin formulations, asking: How can CDs help create modern products in 2025 and beyond?
Tamas Sohajda shared insights on the translation of cyclodextrin science into industrial applications.
Together, these talks highlighted CarboHyde’s unique position at the intersection of research and industry—making synthesis engaging, relevant, and, yes, even fun!
Scientific Highlights Beyond CarboHyde
EuroCD 2025 was packed with inspiring science. Some of the many highlights we took home:
David Thompson on innovative use of cationic CDs for RNA delivery.
Ruxandra Gref on cyclodextrin polymers for tuberculosis therapy.
François-Xavier Legrand on the safety of CDs in deep eutectic solvents.
Damien Truffin & Julien Parcq announcing the release of Crysmeb as a novel pharma excipient.
Michal Řezanka on water purification strategies.
Bettina Rávai presenting advanced analysis of Sugammadex impurities.
Adrián Matencio Durán on how nanosponges can help address climate change.
Poster sessions, flash talks, and lively debates ensured there was never a dull moment.
Looking Back with Gratitude
The 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference reminded us why this community is so special. It is not only about molecules, but about the people who study, challenge, and advance them together.
We congratulate the organizers, especially Andrea Mele and Francesco Trotta, for a flawlessly run and truly inspiring event.
For CarboHyde, EuroCD 2025 was a celebration of cyclodextrins’ past, present, and future—of sustainability, industrial translation, and community spirit.
We left Milan with new ideas, renewed friendships, and a shared mission: to keep pushing cyclodextrin science toward real-world impact.
Last week at the EuroCD-25, I talked about how the innovation landscape is changing in the cyclodextrin field.
What was dominated by pharma 20-30-40 years ago is getting taken over by non-pharma these days.
New derivatives (like polymers or conjugates) and innovative drug delivery solutions (like MOFs) emerge and get commercialized in cosmetic, environmental, household and nutraceutical uses.
My talk was not only describing the case studies but also analyzing what was the key to their success, what enabled them to be successful in the market.
In your opinion – what is the key for successful innovation?
Get a fast, science-first tour of what cyclodextrins can really do—right before CPHI.
We’ll cover practical formulation know-how for delivering small molecules and biologics, roles in vaccines and biotech workflows, and when CDs themselves are the active (think Sugammadex).
Expect data-driven examples, common pitfalls, and quick decision frameworks you can take straight to partner meetings.
If you’re heading to CPHI, this session will sharpen your talking points, help you spot real opportunities (and red flags) on the show floor, and give you the right questions to ask suppliers and CDMOs. Bring your use cases—we’ll keep it interactive and pragmatic.
Continue the conversation at CarboHyde’s booth 4S176 for deeper dives into your projects and what’s next in CD-enabled therapies.
Something that I have been waiting (and secretly working on) for a long time seems to become a reality thanks to the great work of Amelia Anderson, Lian Rajewski and Jo Krise. I was introduced to the fantastic initiative a few days ago by Amelia Anderson and Lian Rajewski, which I fully support and believe to be a fantastic idea.
Cyclodextrin research and industrial applications are advancing rapidly in the United States—ranging from pharmaceuticals and biomaterials to food and environmental technologies. Yet, despite this momentum, there is currently no U.S.-based scientific conference dedicated exclusively to cyclodextrins.
So what is NACC?
Vibrant and engaging cyclodextrin research groups already exist in Europe and Asia, with events like the European Cyclodextrin Conference (EuroCD), the Asian Cyclodextrin Conference (ACC), and the International Cyclodextrin Symposium (ICS). Recognizing that cyclodextrin research is also active across North America, we aim to create a collaborative platform for researchers to connect beyond Europe and Asia. We warmly invite and encourage the international community to participate in NACC, with a special focus on supporting North American researchers, laboratories, and companies.
Our Mission
to foster collaboration in cyclodextrin research across North America and to
establish a platform for scientists, researchers, and industry professionals to
share insights and accelerate innovation.
Our Goals
Advance cyclodextrin science
Foster collaborative partnerships
Establish regular virtual meetings
Support emerging researchers
Host an in-person conference in the USA
Research Areas
Any cyclodextrin-related project or product in North America
We are just back from the fantastic symposium with so many memories, meetings, lectures and great discussions behind for us, as CarboHyde, the most memorable moments were :
CarboHyde is super excited to sponsor PODD and delegate Tamas Kiss, PhD to deliver az oral presentation in the a Soapbox Session soon in Boston.
The event will have the ever prestigious keynotes featuring Novo Nordisk, Regeneron, AstraZeneca and Roche, along with the annual keynote from Robert Langer, who is similarly interested in cyclodextrin science.
Also, 2025 will be the year when we exhibit at CPHI for the first time! Do not miss our booth and stop for a chat about cyclodextrins!
Cyclodextrin MasterClass IX
Get a fast, science-first tour of what cyclodextrins can really do—right before CPHI.
We’ll cover practical formulation know-how for delivering small molecules and biologics, roles in vaccines and biotech workflows, and when CDs themselves are the active (think Sugammadex).
Expect data-driven examples, common pitfalls, and quick decision frameworks you can take straight to partner meetings.
If you’re heading to CPHI, this session will sharpen your talking points, help you spot real opportunities (and red flags) on the show floor, and give you the right questions to ask suppliers and CDMOs. Bring your use cases—we’ll keep it interactive and pragmatic.
Next year, we will initiate the “CanGoNano” project with partners from all around Europe and open several PhD positions.
CangoNano is a training network on glyconanomaterials as precision tools to unveil key insights on the triggering of the antigen presenting cells against cancer.
At CarboHyde, you will have the opportunity – to master cyclodextrin chemistry and synthesis- travel around Europe and learn from other teams too- network broadly in the global pharma community- join a uniquely operating and extraordinary team- learn the backstage secrets of operating a small pharma company.
Become the next generation of uniquely skilled researchers in glycoscience!
We will start the recruitment shortly, yet if you are interested or know someone who might be, drop us a line and a CV to info@carbohyde.com.
While part of the team last week was at EuroCD, Tamas Kiss, PhD was also busy.
We had the privilege to present interesting applications of cyclodextrins in the Annual Symposium on Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, organized by the Hungarian Chemical Society.
The lecture presented several fascinating cyclodextrin applications, such as:
1. Cyclarity Therapeutics’ solution for reversing arteriosclerosis with a cyclodextrin dimer (they are in Clinical Phase 1)
2. Oculis’ formulation that contains gamma-cyclodextrin-dexamethasone suspension, which could be an alternative to the intravitreal injection (Clinical Phase 3 completed)
3. Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP’s gel, which binds the toxic vapour (e.g., lindane) that is released from wood preservatives widespread in Germany
When thinking about advanced drug delivery systems, two names always come up: cyclodextrins (CDs) and liposomes.
Both are powerful tools – but the right choice depends on asking the right questions.
Here are the top 5 considerations:
1️⃣ Solubility & Stability – Does the API suffer from poor aqueous solubility or chemical instability? → CDs excel in solubilizing small molecules; liposomes offer protection and controlled release.
2️⃣ Cargo Type – Are we delivering a small, lipophilic drug or a larger biomolecule (RNA, peptide, protein)? → CDs are ideal for small hydrophobic compounds; liposomes handle complex biologics.
3️⃣ Release Profile – Do we need immediate solubilization or sustained/targeted release? → CDs act fast; liposomes can be tuned for controlled or site-specific delivery.
4️⃣ Biocompatibility & Safety – Which system aligns better with the intended route of administration (oral, IV, topical)? → Both are biocompatible, but formulation history, excipient acceptance, and dose levels matter.
5️⃣ Scalability & Cost – Can the system be manufactured reliably and at scale? → CDs often offer simpler, cost-effective formulations; liposomes require more complex processes but enable versatile applications.
The truth is: it’s not about which is “better”—it’s about matching the delivery system to the therapeutic challenge.
At CarboHyde, we’re passionate about cyclodextrins, but we also recognize where liposomes shine. That is why Tamas Kiss, created this great comparison.
The future of drug delivery will likely see hybrid solutions, combining the strengths of both worlds.
