Ethris & Evonik Join Forces to Advance Targeted mRNA Vaccines and Therapies

Evonik, a global specialty chemicals company, and Ethris, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering next-generation RNA therapeutics and vaccines, have entered a strategic collaboration to develop and market a novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform for nucleic acid delivery.

Through this collaboration, Evonik will expand its offering of formulation development services to customers with Ethris’ proprietary lipidoid nanoparticle (SNaP LNP) technology platform. Ethris will benefit from Evonik’s expertise in lipid process development and LNP formulation capabilities, as well as clinical manufacturing infrastructure, which together ensure the integrity and biological activity of mRNA encapsulated within LNPs. This partnership will enable Evonik to support pharmaceutical companies in bringing more stable and targeted nucleic acid therapies and vaccines to market.

“Our partnership with Ethris strengthens our portfolio and tackles key challenges in nucleic acid delivery. 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. We’re excited to offer this transformative solution to our customers,” said JP Milde, Global Product Line Head Parenteral Drug Delivery Solutions at Evonik.

Current LNP systems can have limitations. For example, they often require storage at low temperatures to maintain stability and tend to accumulate in specific organs. The LNP technology developed by Ethris offers enhanced mechanical and thermostability properties, supporting new therapeutic formats such as nebulized delivery for respiratory diseases. This enables efficient lung targeting through high-energy aerosolization — an approach that has traditionally been difficult with conventional LNPs. The technology has also demonstrated no systemic bioavailability of the mRNA or the produced protein in clinical trials, minimizing the risk of off-target effects.

Dr. Carsten Rudolph, CEO at Ethris, commented, “By combining our innovative 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. We will also benefit from Evonik’s expertise as we continue advancing our in-house mRNA therapeutics and vaccine pipeline.”