Swedish companies partner to explore powder-based mRNA vaccines

The partnership between Orexo and Matti Sällberg-founded SVF Vaccines will assess if LNP-mRNA fomulations can be formulated and spray dried using Orexo's delivery technology, AmorphOX, with the critical functions being preserved.

“This collaboration will explore whether AmorphOX can address an important formulation challenge in mRNA vaccine development. Our initial objective is to establish whether we can develop stable powder-based formulations while preserving LNP integrity and mRNA activity,” said Nikolaj Sørensen, President and CEO at Orexo. 

Orexo specialises in manufacturing its AmorphOX system, which is a powder-based delivery system that stabilizes amorphous materials such as peptides and biologics.

In a mRNA context, the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) protect the mRNA from degradation, but the technology faces a range of complications related to storage and distribution, as it requires cold storage.

The parties now hope that the powder-based formulations could adress these issues by allowing more flexibility in handling, transport and storage.

“The ability to convert LNP-mRNA formulations into stable dry powder suitable for nasal administration could represent an important advancement for the field,” the chief scientific officer of SVF Vaccines, Matti Sällberg, said in the press release.

SVF Vaccines is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative vaccines and immunotherapies targeting serious viral infections. It is founded by Matti Sällberg, a well known Swedish vaccine researcher who became af familiar face during the covid-pandemic in Sweden.

The two companies have not disclosed the financial nor contractual details of the collaboration.