Press information
eTheRNA immunotherapies is driving mRNA technology and therapeutic product development to deliver an innovative generation of RNA chemistries, RNA process technologies and a new and advanced generation of therapeutic and vaccine products. eTheRNA uses its established R&D foundations and in-house GMP manufacturing facilities and builds on its proprietary mRNA, mRNA adjuvant and mRNA formulation platforms to progress technology innovation and product development.
eTheRNA was established in January 2013 as a spin-off company from the ‘Vrije Universiteit Brussel’ (VUB), following the development of its TriMix mRNA technology.
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FAQ
eTheRNA’s TriMix contains three naked mRNA molecules that combined work as a potent T-cell vaccine adjuvant:
- caTLR4: Activates the immune system as it evokes dendritic cells to present antigens to the CD4/CD8 T-cells
- CD40L: Induces the dendritic cells to initiate the antigen-specific action of the CD4 T-cells
- CD70: Induces the dendritic cells to initiate the immune systems of the CD8 T-cells
TriMix is unique in the way it uses these three mRNA molecules to induce the proliferation of T-cells into either mature helper T-cells or cytotoxic T-cells – the ultimate ‘soldiers’ of the immune system that fight cancer cells and infectious agents. By combining TriMix with tumor-specific antigens or neoantigens the patient’s dendritic cells are stimulated to produce a more potent and larger population of antigen specific cytotoxic and helper T-cells compared to tumor antigens alone.
eTheRNA LNPs for intravenous delivery of mRNA have been show to exert first-in-class immune T-cell-specific responses in preclinical experiments. The induced immune responses are multifunctional and boostable. These premium results was achieved by optimizing the composition of the LNPs and designing them to target the spleen and not mainly the liver.
Generally speaking, R&D grade RNA can be ordered from amounts as small as 1mg up to gram amounts. GMP grade production usually starts at higher quantities, preferably starting at around 100mg up to gram range. Very small or very large batches may restrict the options for purification.
eTheRNA distinguishes itself from competitors on different levels:
- Our general vaccine mRNA platform is unique as it uses our proprietary TriMix, a potent T-cell vaccine adjuvant, in combination with eTheRNA’s proprietary LNPs induces first-in-class vaccine-specific immune responses.
- eTheRNA is the only clinical-stage mRNA company developing an intranasal mRNA vaccine platform. This platform is aimed to induce mucosal T cell immunity which is key to prevent lower respiratory tract infections.
- Whereas competitors focus on short-lived antibody responses with limited cross reactivity in the development of their SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, eTheRNA is developing a vaccine with a long-lived T cell response and significant cross reactivity.
- We are developing mRNA-based products mimicking the action of oncolytic viruses. This modality offers opportunities to develop products with cell-lytic, tumor microenvironment modifying and immune stimulating properties without the disadvantages of oncolytic viruses.
// eTheRNA