GC Biopharma, based in South Korea, and Canadian firm Acuitas Therapeutics, a company focused on developing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems to enable messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics, have entered into a Development and Option agreement for Acuitas’ LNP technology.

Under the terms of the agreement, GC Biopharma will obtain the option to license Acuitas’ LNP technology for up to four undisclosed targets, on a non-exclusive basis, for vaccine or therapeutic development. GC Biopharma has selected mRNA as the new development platform and has been conducting related research since late 2017.

“This agreement allows us to explore more projects for improving patient’s lives,” said EC Huh, Ph.D., President of GC Biopharma. “We are striving to introduce various modalities that can be applied to the development of new prevention and treatment option.”

“At Acuitas, we believe strongly in the potential for mRNA-based therapeutics to benefit human health. We are proud to be working with GC Biopharma to advance new vaccines and therapeutic products,” said Dr. Thomas Madden, President & CEO of Acuitas Therapeutics.