Evonik lecture series @ MaWi-Kolloquium (Hybrid)

Dr. Thomas Endres
Head of New Products and Materials
RD&I, Evonik Operations GmbH

The importance of drug delivery systems for RNA therapeutics - Current trends & future perspectives in research and industry

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics hold a great promise in effective treatment of a broad spectrum of indications that can so far only be treated symptomatically. Nucleic acid drugs require tailored drug delivery systems to protect the drug and deliver it to the target. Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) are an enabling technology not only for COVID-19 vaccination products during the pandemic. Custom synthesized lipids with tailored properties are the basis of LNPs.

This talk will give an overview of current trends and future perspectives of custom lipids and delivery systems. Important aspects: Hypothesis driven R&D development of lead candidates, industrially scalable chemical synthesis pathways, the importance of purity and quality control in GMP produc-tion. New lipids are enabling for development more safe and more effective nucleic acid drugs.

Get-together after the lecture with mulled wine and cookies.