Lipid Nanoparticle News and Research Summary (August 19- September 10, 2025)
- aprilt97
- Sep 10
- 4 min read
News Summary
Peking University: PILOT LNPs reported to steer mRNA and genome editing tools to specific organs, expanding therapeutic targeting options.
Pfizer/BioNTech: Topline Phase 3 data show robust immune response with LP.8.1-adapted COMIRNATY 2025–2026 formula.
Cayman Chemical & Curapath: Partner to expand access to PEG-free shielding lipids for next-generation LNP formulations.
PNAS/Northwestern: DNA-coated CRISPR LNP–spherical nucleic acids boost cellular uptake and gene editing efficiency.
ACS Nano Letters: Nebulized LNPs deliver mRNA to the liver as a potential strategy for metabolic disease therapy.
Nature Reviews Materials: Perspective outlines high-throughput platforms for machine learning–guided LNP design.
Nanomedicine (Lond): Review highlights emerging LNP systems capable of efficient intramuscular RNA delivery.
Moderna: Affirms Operation Warp Speed’s success and commits to ongoing transparency on vaccine data; announces participation in September 2025 investor conferences; receives U.S. FDA approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting LP.8.1.
BioNTech/Pfizer: Seek revocation of a GSK mRNA patent at the UK High Court in London.
Detailed Summaries
PILOT LNPs steer mRNA and editors
Researchers affiliated with Peking University and the Chinese Academy reported “PILOT nanoparticles” that direct mRNA therapeutics and genome editors to specific organs, potentially broadening extrahepatic delivery and precision of nucleic acid medicines. The report frames PILOT as a strategy to “take mRNA therapeutics to new destinations,” highlighting organ-selective biodistribution as the core advance.
Release Date: Sep 10, 2025
Authors: Yi Lin and Mengyao Li
Website Link: https://www.bioxconomy.com/modalities/pilot-lnps-take-mrna-therapeutics-to-new-destinations
Related Institute Location: Beijing, China
Pfizer/BioNTech LP.8.1-adapted vaccine data
Pfizer and BioNTech announced positive topline results from an ongoing Phase 3 cohort showing at least a 4-fold increase in LP.8.1-neutralizing antibodies in adults ≥65 and adults 18–64 at risk after vaccination with their LP.8.1-adapted COMIRNATY 2025–2026 formula. The companies noted these findings reinforce pre-clinical data that supported the FDA’s recent approval of the 2025–2026 adapted vaccine.
Release Date: Sep 7, 2025
Website Link: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-topline-data-demonstrating
Related Company Locations: New York, USA; Mainz, Germany
Cayman Chemical–Curapath PEG-free shielding lipids
Cayman Chemical and Curapath announced a partnership to expand access to PEG-free shielding lipids (e.g., polysarcosine-based materials) for LNP formulation in research and GMP grades. The collaboration responds to concerns over PEG-related immunogenicity and aims to enable safer, biocompatible shielding alternatives produced at Curapath’s Valencia, Spain site.
Release Date: Sep 3–4, 2025 (announced Sept 3 by Cayman/press; covered Sept 4 by trade outlets)
Related Company Locations: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Valencia, Spain
CRISPR LNP–SNAs (PNAS)
A PNAS study introduced CRISPR LNP–spherical nucleic acids (LNP–SNAs) with dense DNA shells that enhance cellular uptake and improve gene-editing performance compared to standard LNPs. The research team at Northwestern University report the approach safely packages the full CRISPR toolkit and improves delivery, boosting overall editing efficiency.
Release Date: Sep 4, 2025 (Northwestern news)
Authors: Zhenyu Han, Chi Huang, Taokun Luo, et al.
Website Link: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426094122
Related Institute Location: Evanston, Illinois, USA
Nebulized LNPs deliver mRNA to liver (ACS Nano Lett)
A study in ACS Nano Letters reports nebulized LNPs that deliver mRNA to the liver, advancing a noninvasive strategy potentially applicable to metabolic diseases. The research team at Peking University and the Chinese Academy demonstrated aerosolized formulations can mediate extra-pulmonary transfection, opening routes for systemic effects following inhalation.
Release Date: Sep 8, 2025
Authors: Hongyu Ren, Xiaolu Yu, Mengyao Li, et al.
Website Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c03184
Related Institute Location: Beijing, China
ML-guided LNP design (Nature Reviews Materials)
A Nature study discusses high-throughput experimental platforms integrated with machine learning to accelerate LNP design cycles for nucleic acid delivery. The research team at University of Pennsylvania emphasized systematic, data-rich workflows enabling structure–function mapping and rapid optimization of LNP components.
Release Date: Sep 8, 2025
Authors: Andrew R. Hanna, David A. Issadore, and Michael J. Mitchell
Website Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-025-00831-0
Related Institute Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Emerging intramuscular LNP systems (Nanomedicine)
A review in Nanomedicine (Lond) surveys emerging LNP systems capable of efficient intramuscular RNA delivery, addressing formulation parameters and performance benchmarks. The article synthesizes recent advances relevant to vaccine and therapeutic applications via the intramuscular route.
Release Date: Sep 3, 2025
Authors: Aun Raza, Runtong Zhang, et al.
Website Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40901740/
Related Institute Location: Shanghai, China
Moderna transparency statement on OWS
Moderna recognized Operation Warp Speed’s role and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, citing extensive effectiveness and safety data shared with regulators and through peer-reviewed publications. The company highlighted ongoing vaccine effectiveness studies and pharmacovigilance across more than one billion administered doses.
Release Date: Sep 3, 2025
Company Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Moderna September conference participation
Moderna announced participation in two investor conferences in September 2025, with webcasts available via its investor relations site. The update signals continued investor engagement around the company’s mRNA pipeline and strategy.
Release Date: Aug 21, 2025
Website Link: https://www.newswire.com/news/moderna-to-present-at-upcoming-conferences-in-september-2025
Company Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Moderna FDA approval for LP.8.1–targeting COVID-19 vaccines
Moderna’s press resources list an Aug 27, 2025 update noting U.S. FDA approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the LP.8.1 variant. This aligns with the season’s variant-adapted vaccine refresh across mRNA developers.
Release Date: Aug 27, 2025
Company Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
BioNTech/Pfizer patent action vs GSK in London
A JUVE Patent report states BioNTech and Pfizer are seeking revocation of a GSK mRNA patent at the UK High Court, escalating Comirnaty-related IP disputes. The filing in London underscores ongoing competitive positioning around foundational mRNA and LNP innovations.
Release Date: Sep 9, 2025
Website Link: https://www.juve-patent.com/cases/biontech-and-pfizer-strike-back-against-gsk-in-london/
Related Location: London, United Kingdom
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