Ethris GmbH, a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation RNA therapeutics and vaccines, and Heqet Therapeutics, a biotechnology spin-out company from King’s College London active in the field of regenerative medicine, entered into a collaboration agreement to harness the potential of ncRNA for heart tissue regeneration following acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and in heart failure.

Under the terms of the agreement, Heqet Therapeutics will lead the development of the program, while Ethris will provide its Stabilized NanoParticle (SNaP) LNP platform to deliver ncRNA payloads to the heart tissue.

Ethris and Heqet will operate under a comprehensive commercial agreement, which encompasses various milestone and royalty payments. Ethris’ SNaP LNP platform, a formulation and delivery vehicle, has been developed for exceptional thermostability to safeguard RNA cargo during transit to target cells, facilitate cellular membrane entry, and ensure precise release.

According to both companies, this versatile platform has demonstrated its ability to deliver various forms of RNA through intramuscular injection for vaccination or inhalation for respiratory tract targeting. By harnessing Ethris’ SNaP LNP platform for precise delivery, Heqet aims to test the efficacy of its ncRNA candidates to stimulate cardiac regeneration in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure.

“Our RNA delivery platform was designed to deliver any type of RNA payload to a broad range of tissues,” said Carsten Rudolph, CEO of Ethris. “The collaboration with Heqet represents an exciting opportunity for Ethris to apply our proprietary SNaP LNP platform to deliver ncRNAs for heart tissue regeneration, representing a new application of the technology that further underscores its breadth.”

Mauro Giacca, Founder of Heqet Therapeutics, said, “In experimental screenings for a precise delivery technology, Ethris’ SNaP LNP platform has demonstrated very promising properties in terms of efficiency and specificity. Partnering with Ethris marks an important step in our journey to reverse ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, by stimulating the regeneration of the damaged cardiac muscle using ncRNA. By combining both company’s innovative approaches, we look forward to developing a novel therapeutic that has the potential to revolutionize heart tissue regeneration and transform the treatment of cardiac diseases.”