In his presentation, Michiel Lodder discussed the development and applications of polymeric nanoparticles as a delivery platform for RNA and DNA vaccines. This technology, developed by 20Med, originated from the University of Twente in Holland and had been in development for about two decades. Initially intended for the intracellular delivery of oligonucleotides, the technology had been adapted for vaccine delivery over the past five to six years.
Lodder highlighted the advantages of polymeric nanoparticles over lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), noting their simpler, all-aqueous manufacturing process that did not require purification steps, thus reducing payload loss. The nanoparticles were stable in both freeze-dried and solution forms, showing no degradation at room temperature for over a year and effectively protecting RNA payloads from RNase degradation.
The technology had been applied to mRNA vaccines against influenza and SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating significant antibody responses and reduced viral loads in animal models. Supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), efforts were focused on developing thermostable vaccine formulations to enable rapid pandemic response within 100 days and improve vaccine accessibility in low-resource settings without ultra-cold storage.
In collaboration with Touchlight, the technology was also used to deliver synthetic doggybone DNA vaccines, showing promising immune responses in mini pigs and mice, with ongoing non-human primate studies supported by the Gates Foundation. Comparative studies with multiple LNP formulations revealed that polymeric nanoparticles produced comparable antibody titers but with fewer adverse effects, such as body weight loss in animals, indicating a favourable safety profile.
Toxicology studies in rats showed minimal side effects, limited to slight injection site swelling, with no significant systemic toxicity observed after multiple doses. Lodder emphasised that the polymeric nanoparticle platform operated outside the intellectual property landscape of LNPs, with granted patents on polymer composition and ongoing filings for formulation and use, avoiding ongoing patent disputes in the lipid space.
Beyond infectious disease vaccines, the platform was being explored for therapeutic cancer vaccines through collaborations with academic and clinical consortia in the Netherlands. This comprehensive approach underscored the versatility and potential of polymeric nanoparticles in advancing vaccine delivery and therapeutic applications.
