Platform
The utilization of mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic has validated its immense potential and clinical safety, as billions of doses have been administered. Nonetheless, the application of mRNA as therapeutics still faces various obstacles and hurdles, particularly concerning repeated dosing. A significant challenge pertains to the delivery system employed, as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) possess a propensity to amass in the liver, ultimately restricting their application in non-hepatic diseases.
Starna Therapeutics has developed the STAR (selective targeted RNA delivery) LNP technology platform based on the in-depth expertise in extrahepatic delivery. Starna has also established an ionizable lipids library, which lays the foundation for the further screening of the tissue-specific LNP candidates.
Tissue specific LNP (tsLNP)
Drawing on extensive knowledge in lipid chemistry and combinational chemistry, Starna has developed a vast library of thousands of lipid candidates, each with unique structures. This library enables the validation of tens of thousands of LNP formulations. By utilizing intelligent and effective high-throughput in vitro and in vivo screening methods, we obtain organ/tissue-specific LNPs.
Tissue specific LNP (tsLNPs) currently support specific delivery to local sites such as muscle and tumors, as well as the lung, spleen, and liver.
Cell selective LNP (csLNP)
By conjugating a ligand to the LNP, cell-selective LNPs (csLNPs) can be generated that target specific cell types, thereby enabling in vivo cell therapy.
