Pfizer, Acuitas Therapeutics ink pact for Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery System for use in mRNA Vaccines
New York: Pfizer Inc. and Acuitas Therapeutics, a company focused on developing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems to enable messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics, have announced that they have entered into a Development and Option agreement under which Pfizer will have the option to license, on a non-exclusive basis, Acuitas' LNP technology for up to 10 targets for vaccine or therapeutic development.
Acuitas' clinically-validated LNP technology is used in COMIRNATY, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
"Our swift delivery of the world's first mRNA-LNP-based vaccine made clear the promise of mRNA-LNP technology," said Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical of Pfizer Inc. "We are making significant investments to harness the power of the mRNA-LNP technology and deliver potential new breakthrough vaccines and therapeutics that address significant unmet needs for patients. This agreement expands our LNP capabilities and allows us to explore more projects within our existing vaccines area and new therapeutic areas where mRNA-LNP technology holds potential for success."
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"Acuitas is extremely proud that its LNP technology contributes to the success of COMIRNATY and is excited to be working with Pfizer to advance new vaccines and therapeutic products," said Dr. Thomas Madden, President & CEO of Acuitas Therapeutics.
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Founded in February 2009, Vancouver-based Acuitas Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company that specializes in the development of delivery systems for nucleic acid therapeutics based on lipid nanoparticles.
