Evonik and Ethris have agreed a partnership to develop and market a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform aimed at improving the delivery of nucleic acid medicines, with an initial focus on respiratory diseases.

The collaboration combines Evonik’s formulation and manufacturing expertise with Ethris’ proprietary lipidoid nanoparticle (SNaP LNP) technology. LNPs are widely used in RNA medicines, including vaccines, because they protect fragile nucleic acids and help them reach target cells. But current systems have limits: they often require storage at very low temperatures to remain stable and tend to accumulate in specific organs, making delivery to the lungs difficult.

Ethris’ platform is designed to improve stability and enable local retention at the site of action, offering the potential for therapies that can be inhaled directly into the lungs. This approach could open new possibilities for treating respiratory conditions such as asthma, where efficient aerosol delivery has been challenging with conventional LNPs.

JP Milde, global product line head for parenteral drug delivery solutions at Evonik, said: “Ethris’ SNaP LNP technology improves thermostability — enabling storage at higher temperatures — and enhances local retention, facilitating targeted delivery to the site of action and prolonged presence where therapeutic effect is needed.”

Ethris, based in Munich, has developed two proprietary platforms — stabilized non-immunogenic mRNA (SNIM RNA) and the SNaP LNP system — and has already advanced its lead mRNA programme into a Phase 2a clinical trial in asthma. By demonstrating local delivery without systemic exposure, the company has shown a reduced risk of off-target effects, an issue that has limited some RNA therapies.

Carsten Rudolph, chief executive at Ethris, said: “By combining our nucleic acid delivery platforms with Evonik, one of the world’s leading CDMOs for LNP formulations, we are creating a powerful offering for pharma partners. This collaboration addresses the increasing demand for scalable, high-quality nucleic acid technologies and enables us to serve a broader set of partners worldwide.”

Evonik supplies lipids and manufacturing services for nucleic acid medicines, including the development and GMP production of LNPs and liposomes. The company said the market for LNP technology is projected to grow to $2.3 billion by 2032, reflecting the rapid expansion of RNA-based therapeutics and vaccines.