Tag: mRNA therapeutics research
Niel, Belgium – February 19th, 2026 – etherna, a leading provider of cutting-edge mRNA and
lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology across the biotech and pharma industry, announces that one
of its key collaborators, Almirall (www.almirall.com), a leading medical dermatology company,
nominated LAD116 as a novel therapy targeting non-melanoma skin cancer for further
development in IND enabling studies. LAD116 is based on etherna’s intratumoral mRNA/LNP
platform for therapies intended to generate a potent immune response directly within the tumor
microenvironment. The collaboration with Almirall on this potential new therapy will now focus
on manufacturing and producing GMP-grade material for IND enabling studies and intended
Phase I clinical trials.
Bernard Sagaert, CEO, etherna, added:
“This collaboration is a perfect example of what can be achieved when teams are fully aligned
and driven to succeed. The combined efforts of both companies to discover and advance an
mRNA-LNP based therapy to preclinical candidate nomination, on time and on budget, has been
outstanding. We are extremely happy to continue to support Almirall as they advance this
promising approach for non-melanoma skin cancer patients.”
Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer, Almirall, commented:
“Almirall is committed to advancing innovation in medical dermatology to address significant
unmet medical needs. We are very excited to advance this innovative intratumoral approach to
potentially treat patients with non-melanoma skin cancer and we are delighted to see rapid
progress of our collaboration with etherna based on their mRNA and LNP capabilities.”
About etherna
etherna is a leading technology platform company pioneering the development of mRNA and
lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies, including manufacturing up to GMP. With over a decade of
expertise, the company provides pharma and biotech partners with an integrated suite of
proprietary platforms, including customizable lipid nanoparticles (cLNPs) and advanced mRNA
chemistry to enable the delivery of differentiated and efficacious RNA therapeutics. Founded in
2013 as a spin-off from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), etherna has evolved from a developer
of immunotherapies into a key strategic partner for the global life sciences industry, supporting
projects from early research over development to GMP manufacturing. The company is
headquartered in Niel, Belgium, with R&D facilities in Ghent and commercial operations in the
U.S. and Asia. www.etherna.bio
Media Contact:
media@etherna.be
This work paves the way for the design of mRNA vaccines to combat infectious diseases and cancers with enhanced efficacy and improved tolerability. The inclusion of lipid nanoparticles is crucial in this advancement, making mRNA vaccines with lipid nanoparticles a significant focus for future innovations.
Niel, Belgium – Feb 13, 2024 – etherna, a leading RNA technology company has announced the publication of a peer-reviewed paper in Advanced Functional Materials showcasing the strengths of etherna’s proprietary Lipid-based nanoparticle (LNP) platform.
The work, which was conducted in collaboration with the lab of Prof. De Geest at Ghent University, describes how delivery of mRNA-encoded antigens in LNPs comprising a novel class of ionizable lipids enhances the induction of antigen-specific immune responses while reducing undesired off-target expression in the liver, thereby minimizing the risk of adverse events, thus emphasizing the vital role lipid nanoparticles play in mRNA vaccine efficiency.
The researchers compared the transfection ability and toxicity arising from the use of two different mRNA encapsulation materials, MC3 (which served as a benchmark) and etherna’s S-Ac7-DOG. Their findings included significant improvements in mRNA vaccines lipid nanoparticles interaction, considerably lowering toxicity.
In mouse models, the team found that S-Ac7-DOG encapsulated mRNA demonstrated markedly higher transfection, lower reactogenicity, and higher accumulation in the vaccine-draining lymph nodes, tissues where immune responses against microbial antigens and tumor antigens are typically induced. The role of LNPs in enhanced mRNA vaccine delivery was evident.
Hypothetically, any mRNA-based drug using S-Ac7-DOG as the lipid base would therefore have improved efficacy and a better safety profile. Eventually, these findings could lead to the development and subsequent delivery of highly efficacious, safe cancer vaccines and treatments, transforming oncology as we know it. It emphasizes how mRNA vaccines lipid nanoparticles work together for better treatment options.
Stefaan De Koker, etherna’s Vice President, Technology & Innovation, describes the paper as a “landmark” for the company and its technology.
“The publication in Advanced Functional Materials demonstrates several key advantages of etherna’s mRNA and lipid nanoparticle offerings and, for the first time, demonstrates the two together. Whilst the currently published work focuses on the design of mRNA LNPs for more effective vaccines, we also have designed LNP platforms based on similar chemistries for the immune-silent delivery of mRNA to hematopoietic stem cells, macrophages, and hepatocytes, thereby extending the utility of our LNP platforms to hematological disorders, rare genetic diseases, and auto-immunity.
It is our view that mRNA therapies, when successfully deployed, could be used to save the lives of millions of patients worldwide,” he says. “As a company, we are now even better positioned to sign development agreements with large pharmaceutical companies who require additional assistance in bringing their own mRNA therapies to market.”
Kenneth Chien, Karolinska Institute Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Swedish Research Council added: “This study establishes the value of combining the design of custom LNPs ( cLNPs) with state-of-the-art mRNA chemistry based on the optimization of the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions along with enhanced algorithms for codon optimization. The etherna paradigm for cLNP design is ushering in the rapid generation of novel families of delivery systems for not only vaccination but also for in vivo tolerization for a host of autoimmune diseases.” In this context, the synergy between mRNA vaccines lipid nanoparticles is crucial for advancing therapeutic solutions.
About Advanced Functional Materials
Advanced Functional Materials is part of the Wiley family of scientific publications. Published weekly since 2013, the journal has an impact rating of 19 and focuses on articles that demonstrate advances in the chemical and physical properties of known materials.
Although Advanced Functional Materials’ most-cited articles focus on battery and semiconductor technology, its readers and submissions come from a broad range of backgrounds, including those from elsewhere in the materials science sector, physicists, engineers, biologists, and medical researchers.