Ziccum signs Academic Collaboration with University of Copenhagen on inhalable mRNA vaccine project
Ziccum AB (publ) has signed a Collaboration Agreement for a project jointly with the Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), on the engineering of inhalable solid dosage forms of mRNA vaccines which will include in-vivo studies of mRNA/LNP materials formulated and dried using Ziccum’s unique LaminarPace. The UCPH counterpart is international vaccine Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Prof Camilla Foged, the author of 130 papers and the leader of UCPH Department of Pharmacy’s international Vaccine Design and Delivery group.
The project is of strategic significance for Ziccum, who explored collaborating with several institutions before finalizing the agreement with UCPH. It will use Ziccum’s unique formulation and drying technology for biologics, LaminarPace, which transforms delicate liquid mRNA/LNPmaterials into stable, bioactive dry powder without exposing them to extreme temperatures, stress factors or degradation - setting it apart from legacy pharmaceutical drying systems.
The project will include in-vivo studies comparing LaminarPace-formulated solid dosage forms of mRNA/LNP materials and liquid dosage forms in head-to-head mice studies. The purpose is to further validate the LaminarPace performance academically with a potential of scientific publications.
Project phases and timeline
The project is structured in several phases from physicochemical characterization and in-vitro testing to in-vivo imaging and immunogenicity. The project will compare the solid dosage forms with liquid dosage forms in mice studies, then evaluate the most promising solid dosage forms. The project is scheduled to run 2023 - 2024.
Focus on inhaled treatments
Inhalable solid dosage forms of mRNA vaccines are of great interest to the biopharmaceutic industry. They promise increased storage stability compared to liquid formulations, simplified patient administration avoiding injections and an ability to stimulate the mucosal immune system. LaminarPace was originally developed specifically to dry liquid biologics into aerosols for inhalation. It offers particle engineering and characterization capabilities, major advantages when formulating inhalable dosage forms.
Ziccum recently reported external mRNA activity data that confirmed high activity levels and excellent in-vitro characteristics of mRNA/LNP material formulated and dried by LaminarPace. The company has recently signed agreements with two multinational Pharmaceutical Corporations for Evaluation Studies assessing LaminarPace’s capabilities on mRNA/LNP materials.
Ziccum CEO Ann Gidner: “We are excited to be partnering with UCPH’s Vaccine Design and Delivery group, an international team working on a range of vaccine delivery systems. Also, I am delighted to tie this Key Opinion Leader in vaccine development, Professor Camilla Foged, to Ziccum’s network of international, senior expertise. This is a great step to taking LaminarPace forward in new stable delivery forms for next-generation vaccines.”
Ziccum Scientific Director Fabrice Rose: “We are in a period of intensive data generation, both externally and in our internal mRNA/LNP project. This collaboration is an important part of that progress, addressing the inhalation field. We are very happy to address LaminarPace for inhaled applications in an advanced academic setting”.