Portal Instruments

Portal Instruments is a medical device company developing a revolutionary needle-free drug delivery platform for biologic medicines. The company's technology, licensed from MIT, is designed to administer a narrow stream of medication through the skin in less than half a second, without the use of needles. Portal's device is computer-controlled and cloud-connected, aimed at enhancing at-home self-injections for patients with chronic diseases. The system can handle high viscosity formulations and is designed to be precise, accurate, and software-controlled.

The Portal device has been clinically shown to be less painful and preferred by patients compared to standard needle-based injections. It offers real-time tracking and reporting capabilities, setting a new standard for interactivity between patients and care teams, potentially improving adherence and patient outcomes. The company's platform is still in development.

Portal Instruments is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has received ISO 13485:2016 certification for its quality management system. The company's technology has attracted partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies. In November 2017, Portal announced a collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to develop and commercialize its needle-free device for potential use with Takeda's biologic medicines, including the possibility of adapting it for Entyvio, a treatment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Key customers and partnerships

Portal Instruments has established significant partnerships in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. In November 2017, the company entered into a collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to develop and commercialize its needle-free drug delivery device for use with Takeda's biologic medicines. This partnership included an initial payment and the potential for up to USD 100 million in additional payments based on achieving specified development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones.

The company has also partnered with Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company, which led Portal's USD 11 million Series A financing round in October 2014 through its Sunrise initiative. Additionally, Portal has a relationship with Gerresheimer AG, a global partner for medicine packaging and drug delivery devices. These partnerships demonstrate the industry's interest in Portal's innovative needle-free technology and its potential to improve the administration of biological medicines for patients with chronic conditions.