BusinessSeptember 2, 2026

hyaluronan

hy-uh-loo-RO-nan

Definition

A naturally occurring viscous substance found in the body's connective tissues that acts as a barrier to the rapid absorption of injected drugs.

Etymology

The word is derived from 'hyal-' (from Greek 'hyalos', meaning glass, referring to its transparent, glassy appearance) and 'uronic acid', a type of sugar acid found in the molecule. It was first coined by scientists in the 1930s to describe this specific polysaccharide.

In the news

In this article, hyaluronan is described as the substance Alteogen's technology breaks down to facilitate the faster absorption of medicines injected under the skin. Understanding this process explains how the company's proprietary enzyme makes injectable drug delivery possible.

Novartis signs deal worth up to $3.2 billion for Alteogen’s drug delivery technology

Read the full article ↗

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