News

Three events, one goal: understanding applications and enabling solutions

In the first week of June, Oxaphil participated in three leading events with one objective in mind: to understand what developers need from new materials and to show how POx can provide meaningful answers.

New formulation perspectives in Berlin

At the 2025 Drug Delivery & Formulation Summit in Berlin, Erik spoke about the potential of POx in pharmaceutical formulations. His focus was on key properties such as solubilization, biocompatibility and structural precision. Discussions clearly reflected the growing demand for adaptive materials. The news that POx are now available was met with strong interest and consistently positive feedback.

Real-world challenges in Munich

At the same time, Laura joined the CosmeticBusiness trade show in Munich, connecting with industry professionals across cosmetic development, emulsion stability and functional ingredients. The message from her conversations was clear. Most often, it was summed up as: “Let’s see it in action.”

Application spotlight in Erfurt

Meanwhile, Leonardo represented Oxaphil at the Investor Days Thuringia in Erfurt. His pitch focused on real-world use cases and target markets. The technological potential of POx was framed in the context of demand, scalability and relevance. Investor feedback was highly positive here as well.

Our conclusion

From drug delivery to solubilization and emulsion stabilization – POx offer practical answers to real-world formulation challenges. These three events once again demonstrated the value of engaging directly with those shaping innovation. That is exactly the path we are committed to at Oxaphil.

First POx Samples Delivered – A Milestone for Real-World Testing

Just four months after project launch, we have delivered the first samples of our poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) to our collaboration partner DermaPurge. This marks an important milestone as we move from technology development into practical application.

The samples will be used for formulation testing under real-world conditions, providing valuable feedback from the field. Together with DemaPurge, we aim to unlock the full potential of our biocompatible polymer solutions – with the clear goal of creating innovative, high-performance alternatives to existing systems.

We look forward to the next steps in this collaboration.

Back from Amsterdam – Inspired, Connected, and Ready for the Next Steps!

At in-cosmetics Global, we had countless inspiring discussions about the potential of Poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) in cosmetic formulations.

We are excited about the many partners who are ready to shape not only the #FutureOfPolymers but hopefully also the #FutureOfCosmetics with us. Together, we are now moving into the first application tests – and we are curious to see where the journey will take us.

A visitor survey confirmed what we also believe: true innovation in cosmetics starts with the ingredients.

A clear signal for change — and a perfect starting point for POx.

In addition to the successful networking and discussions, we also gathered valuable insights into key trends and developments shaping the industry.

A strong focus was placed on bio-based ingredients — from functional polymers derived from cellulose to natural emulsifiers sourced from food industry by-products. Marine resources like red algae and microalgae highlighted how sustainability and high performance can go hand in hand.

There was also a strong emphasis on actives: new carrier systems, stabilized formulations, and natural alternatives were widely discussed. The innovation spirit was palpable, especially regarding the advancement of formulation reagents and the use of functional polymers.

Above all, the exchange with developers, innovators, and partners from around the world provided valuable perspectives that will enrich our work at Oxaphil.

We look forward to integrating these impulses into our research, development, and daily practice — driving future-ready solutions forward.

From Lab to Market: Building Oxaphil with Strong Partners

Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation — it thrives through strong partnerships.

At Oxaphil, our journey started with research and development at the Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry at TU Dresden. Through the dresden|exists program, we received key support in our transition from lab to business. The TUD|excite initiative further helped translate our technology into practical applications.

Thanks to validation funding from the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport (SMWA), we put our technology to the test early on and refined our processes. The EXIST startup grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), coordinated by the Project Management Jülich (PTJ), now enables us to fully establish Oxaphil.

Additional insights and networking opportunities through futureSAX continue to shape our path.

Without this support network, Oxaphil would not be where we are today — thank you to everyone who shares our vision!

In March, our team took part in the EXIST seminar in Berlin: two days of workshops, exchange, and team development — because building a strong team is essential for building a strong company.

Poly(2-oxazoline)s: Setting New Standards in Excipient Innovation

Efficient solubilizers are crucial for the formulation of active ingredients, cosmetic applications, and many other industries. Yet, the market continues to be dominated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) — a growing challenge: PEG can trigger antibody responses and other unwanted effects, significantly limiting its applicability.

Our solution: Poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) — an innovative, highly biocompatible alternative to PEG. POx avoids PEG’s limitations while offering enhanced solubility, versatile chemical functionalities, and improved compatibility.

While POx has already been recognized in academia as a valuable substitute for PEG, we are taking the next step:

At Oxaphil, we produce high-quality POx materials at scale and develop tailor-made solutions for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Our mission: enabling the next generation of formulations.

Looking for a better alternative to PEG? Let’s start the conversation!