Press releases
mRNA technology gained worldwide recognition through the COVID-19 vaccines. Researchers from the Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) at Hasselt University and the Belgian biotech company etherna have now demonstrated that the same technology also holds promise for a very different application: the targeted treatment of autoimmune diseases. Their findings have been published in the leading scientific journal Advanced Science.
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue. Many existing treatments suppress this immune response, but they do not always do so in a targeted manner. This new mRNA approach aims to modulate the immune system more precisely. The researchers successfully reduced disease severity in preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes.
Simple injection proves equally effective
With this study, the researchers demonstrate that mRNA can be used not only to activate the immune system, as is the case with vaccines against infectious diseases, but also to selectively suppress harmful immune responses. One of the study’s most remarkable findings is that a simple intramuscular injection proved to be just as effective as intravenous administration. This is important because intramuscular injections are much easier to administer and could significantly improve the practical applicability of future mRNA therapies.
Although further research is required to demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans, these findings represent an important step towards the development of new targeted therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Strong collaboration
The research is the result of a close collaboration between etherna and the Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) at Hasselt University, bringing together the complementary expertise of both partners. etherna contributed its expertise in mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, while the BIOMED research team led by Professor Bieke Broux and Dr Paulien Baeten provided immunological expertise and in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases.
“For more than a decade, we have built etherna’s mRNA-LNP platform on one simple conviction: this technology is far more versatile than vaccines alone. These results prove it. They show that our platform can be used not only to activate the immune system, but also to calm it and re-establish immune tolerance in models of multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. This achievement was only possible through collaboration. Combining our platform technology with BIOMED’s leading immunology expertise, is exactly the kind of partnership that turns scientific ambition into therapeutic progress.” – Bernard Sagaert, CEO, etherna
A major driving force
“For my team and me, developing effective treatments for people with autoimmune diseases is the greatest driving force behind everything we do. What we have achieved together with etherna is, quite honestly, remarkable. Although further validation in patients remains essential, these findings demonstrate great potential, not only for multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, but possibly for a broader range of autoimmune diseases.” – Professor Bieke Broux, BIOMED, Hasselt University
“Results like these remind us why our research matters. This project also demonstrates what becomes possible when scientific expertise and biotechnology reinforce one another.” – Dr Paulien Baeten, BIOMED, Hasselt University
This project was supported by VLAIO and carried out in collaboration with researchers from Ghent University–VIB and UMass Chan Medical School (USA).
The study was published in Advanced Science and is available here.
About etherna
etherna is a leading technology platform company pioneering the development of mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies, including manufacturing up to GMP grade. With more than a decade of expertise, the company provides pharmaceutical and biotech partners with an integrated suite of proprietary platform technologies, including customizable lipid nanoparticles (cLNPs) and advanced mRNA chemistry, enabling the delivery of high-quality and effective nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
About BIOMED at Hasselt University
The Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) at Hasselt University is a multidisciplinary research institute where advanced technologies are used to generate new insights into three disease domains: immunology, neurosciences and cardiovascular diseases. The institute combines high-quality fundamental research with translational research programmes to develop applications for patients and the healthcare sector. Its work focuses on identifying risk factors throughout the different stages of life, improving our understanding of disease mechanisms, monitoring diseases, and developing strategies to manage, treat and prevent disease.
More information
etherna: media@etherna.be
Prof. Dr. Bieke Broux (BIOMED UHasselt): +32 468 14 30 54