Oral Presentation 50 Years Shine-Dalgarno Symposium 2023

In vivo delivery of RNA medicines: from cancer to viral disease.   (#3)

Nigel A McMillan 1 , Kevin V Morris 1 , Adi Idirs 1 , Yaman Tayyar 1
  1. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AUSTRALIA

We have been working in the area of RNA delivery for more than a decade, using a range of disease model systems to demonstrate in vivo effects.  We have licenced our technology to industry.  However, while lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have become a clinical reality, current versions have several deficiencies.  They only deliver 1% of their payload to the cytoplasm, they don’t distribute to important tissues where clinical interventions are needed (e.g. the brain), and their use of phagocytic inhibitors like PEG elicit inflammatory immune reactions. To address this, we will present data on the next generation of LNPs that will overcome these issues. We will show a range of disease models from cancer to COVID, HIV to RSV.  We will show strategies to deliver to different organs such as the lungs and brain.  Overall, the next generation of LNPs will vastly improve upon today’s generation 1 versions.