Collaborating on RNA-based drugs
Evonik is a partner in a new German research alliance
Evonik is working together with the universities of Jena, Würzburg and Dortmund, and with the companies NGP Polymers, Bayer and ISAR Bioscience on a new research project to investigate new materials for RNA-based medicines. The joint project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, who will support the research for three years with a two-digit million-euro sum.
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the development of RNA-enabled technology and demonstrated its effectiveness. Crucial to the mRNA vaccines and nucleic acid-based therapies are lipids, which form lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and deliver the mRNA safely into cells. The goal of this collaborative project is to investigate new lipids for RNA technologies, which will be of importance in applications from infectious disease control to cancer immunotherapy and protein replacement.
Andrea Engel, head of Health Care growth projects at Evonik provides her insights into the background and goals of this research consortium.
1. Why is it important to research RNA therapies in collaboration with academia and other companies?
For topics as complex and impactful as RNA-based medicine, it is crucial that diverse experts come together to work synergistically towards a common goal. In most cases, outcomes from multiple partners are greater than from individual organizations or companies. Researchers in academia have developed impressive and very promising concepts. We as industry partners can provide the required environment to develop scalable processes that follow the necessary stringent quality standards. Our goal is always to bridge the gap between early academic research and commercialization.
2. What aspect of RNA-technology will be the focus of this research project?
This research project has a clear focus on the development of new excipients to enable future applications of RNA medicines. For example, these excipients could improve targeting of RNA therapeutics, or they could reduce immunogenic reactions and therefore enhance the safety profile of a therapeutic.
3. What will Evonik contribute to the project?
Evonik will be providing plant-based excipients for vaccines such as our plant-derived cholesterol PhytoChol® and our plant-based squalene PhytoSquene®. We will also be working on new lipid concepts to improve the efficiency of RNA-based medicines and will be supporting with in vitro testing of new materials and formulation compositions. Our know-how in manufacturing process development from lab to commercial scale, alongside our quality and regulatory know-how for cGMP manufacturing will be valuable contributions to this project.
4. What would you like to see come out of the project?
I would personally like to see novel, promising materials that can be used by pharma companies for the new drug product developments. Ideally, it would be excellent if these materials made it to clinical trials – with a promising outlook - by the end of the project.
5. Why is it important to advance RNA technology in Germany?
The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that domestic research and manufacturing facilities are essential for securing medicines today and in the future. Research and innovation are of central importance for the future of Germany. By advancing RNA technology in Germany, we have the opportunity to lead the development of the next generation of medicines globally and thereby to expand the international innovation performance of Germany.
