etherna, a biotech company specialising in mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, is advancing its intratumoral platform in collaboration with Almirall. The partnership has nominated LAD116 as a preclinical candidate for non-melanoma skin cancer and will now focus on manufacturing GMP-grade material to support IND-enabling studies and planned Phase I trials.

Bernard Sagaert, CEO of etherna, said the collaboration demonstrates aligned efforts to advance an mRNA-LNP therapy to preclinical candidate nomination on schedule. Karl Ziegelbauer, chief scientific officer at Almirall, added: “We are excited to advance this intratumoral approach and to see rapid progress based on etherna’s mRNA and LNP capabilities.”

LAD116 is designed to generate a targeted immune response directly within the tumor microenvironment. By delivering mRNA constructs encapsulated in LNPs directly into the tumor, the therapy aims to stimulate local antigen presentation and immune activation without the need for systemic administration. This approach can reduce off-target effects and increase the likelihood of eliciting a potent anti-tumor response.

Non-melanoma skin cancers, which include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are among the most common cancers globally. While often manageable with surgery or localized therapies, there remains a subset of patients with recurrent or difficult-to-treat lesions where innovative treatment approaches are needed. Intratumoral mRNA therapies such as LAD116 could offer a new option for these patients by targeting tumors in situ and engaging the patient’s own immune system.

The collaboration between etherna and Almirall will focus on producing GMP-grade material for IND-enabling studies, which are necessary to support regulatory submission and subsequent Phase I trials. These studies will evaluate the therapy’s safety, tolerability, and initial pharmacodynamic effects in preclinical models before progressing to human testing.

This partnership highlights the growing interest in mRNA-based therapies beyond infectious diseases, extending into oncology and other specialized therapeutic areas. etherna’s platform is designed to be modular, potentially allowing rapid adaptation to different tumor targets or disease indications in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners.