Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) News Brief Summary: March 1-3, 2025
Brief Summary of News
Nature: Published research on improving safety of lipid nanoparticle-based DNA delivery by incorporating endogenous anti-inflammatory lipids to mitigate toxicity.5
METiS Pharmaceuticals: Appointed Mark Herbert as Chief Business Officer to advance their AI-driven LNP delivery systems that show 20 times greater efficacy in liver cancer and lung tumors.15
Prime Medicine: Reported progress on their LNP Prime Editor technology for treating Wilson's Disease with plans to file IND/CTA in first half of the 2026.16
Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma: Initiated international patent infringement lawsuits against Moderna related to LNP technology used in their vaccines and therapeutics.17
Detailed News Summaries
Nature: Improving Safety of Lipid Nanoparticle-based DNA Delivery
The research published in Nature focuses on addressing a significant challenge in DNA-based therapeutics: the toxicity associated with lipid nanoparticle delivery systems. According to the study, DNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles often results in severe toxicity in mice. However, researchers have discovered that incorporating endogenous anti-inflammatory lipids into the LNPs can effectively mitigate this toxicity while enabling prolonged gene expression. This breakthrough could significantly improve the safety profile of DNA-based therapeutics delivered via LNPs, potentially expanding their clinical applications.
Release Date: March 3, 2025
Website Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-025-02600-4
METiS Pharmaceuticals: New Chief Business Officer Appointment
METiS Pharmaceuticals has appointed Mark Herbert as Chief Business Officer to strengthen their business development efforts and foster global partnerships. The company has been making significant progress in developing AI-driven LNP delivery systems, achieving breakthroughs in targeted nano delivery for multiple organs including the liver, lungs, spleen, muscles, and central nervous system. Their technology demonstrates up to 20 times greater efficacy in liver cancer and lung tumors compared to industry standards. The press release notes that METiS has already established strategic collaborations with over 20 leading global pharmaceutical and biotech companies and is entering an exciting new chapter in delivering transformative therapies through innovative delivery technologies.
Release Date: March 3, 2025
Website Link: https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/metis-pharmaceuticals-appoints-mark-herbert-as-chief-business-officer
Prime Medicine: Progress on LNP-based Gene Editing Therapeutics
Prime Medicine has reported progress on their pipeline of Prime Editing therapeutics in their full-year 2024 financial results. The company is advancing their lipid nanoparticle (LNP) Prime Editor technology for the treatment of Wilson's Disease, which they believe will be a fundamental driver of their long-term growth. According to their announcement, they are on track with IND-enabling studies and expect to file an IND and/or CTA in the first half of 2026. Additionally, the company is developing LNP or adeno-associated virus (AAV) Prime Editors for treating cystic fibrosis (CF). Prime Medicine plans to share new in vivo data from across their preclinical programs in 2025.
Release Date: March 3, 2025 (report dated February 28, 2025)
Website Link: https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/prime-medicine-reports-full-year-2024-financial-results-and-provides-business-updates
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma: Patent Infringement Lawsuits Against Moderna
Genevant Sciences, a leading nucleic acid delivery company with a robust lipid nanoparticle patent portfolio, together with Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, has filed five international lawsuits against Moderna, Inc. and certain affiliates. These legal actions seek to enforce patents protecting their innovative LNP technology, targeting alleged infringing activities in 30 countries. The companies are seeking monetary relief and injunctions against Moderna's Spikevax and other products that reportedly use the same LNP technology, including mRESVIA. The lawsuits include evidence from testing commercial Moderna product samples from the U.S. and Europe, which allegedly contain LNPs falling under the protective scope of their lipid composition patents. Cases have been filed in Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and the Unified Patent Court.
Release Date: March 3, 2025
Location : Basel, Switzerland; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Warminster, Pennsylvania, USA
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