Page 155 - CW E-Magazine (5-3-2024)

News from Abroad

LICENSING DEAL
Evonik, University of Mainz join forces on PEG-based

excipients

Germany’s Evonik and the University bring rPEG-lipids globally to the pharma-
of Mainz have signed a license ceutical industry,” said Prof. Dr. Holger
agreement to commercialise rando- Frey, Johannes Gutenberg University
mised polyethylene glycols (rPEGs), a of Mainz, who first developed rPEG
new class of PEGs. Evonik intends to polymers together with his research
use rPEGs for its platform of specia- group.
lised lipids and commercialise the ex-
cipients under the license agreement Evonik’s partnership with the
to meet market needs. Evonik plans to University of Mainz is the latest in a series
release technical grade rPEG-lipids in of strategic steps to meet the needs of the
the second half of 2024. pharmaceutical industry for nucleic acid
drug delivery. In 2021, Evonik began a
As part of the company’s Nutrition & collaboration with Stanford University
Care life sciences division, Evonik’s to scale up the synthesis and formulation
Health Care business has been growing Thomas Riermeier, head of the Health of an innovative tissue-specific delivery
its nucleic acid drug and vaccine deli- Care business line at Evonik. platform for nucleic acids. Just over a
very portfolio by leveraging its biosolu- year ago, Evonik opened a new cGMP
tions, and innovation and co-creation PEGs are polymers that have been facility in Hanau, Germany for the de-
opportunities with life science leaders. used in the pharmaceutical industry velopment and manufacture of smaller
By partnering with the Johannes Gutenberg for more than 30 years to improve the batches of specialised lipids. This was
University of Mainz in Germany, bioavailability, stability, targeting and followed by the start of construction of
where rPEGs were first developed, Evonik performance of therapeutics. rPEG poly- a global-scale production facility for
said it can offer an expanded toolbox mers have similar properties to PEGs pharmaceutical specialty lipids in
of technologies for nucleic acid-based but have a different structure that is Lafayette, Indiana, in partnership with
medicines. intended to offer an improved immuno- the US Government.
genicity profile. They are especially
“When scientists at the University of suitable for pharmaceutical applications PEG lipids are used today in com-
Mainz approached us with their ground- such as in lipids for lipid nanoparticle mercial COVID-19 vaccines. Along
breaking work on rPEGs, we immedi- (LNP) carriers. with cholesterol and ionizable and struc-
ately recognised the potential for broader tural lipids, PEG lipids form the LNPs
formulation options and the benefits this “With Evonik, we have found an needed to deliver nucleic acids such as
could bring our customers,” said Mr. enthusiastic and experienced partner to mRNA effectively into the cell.

In-cosmetics Global introduces new award categories

for 2024

In-cosmetics Global, the leading efficacious ingredient innovations for panel provided by global consumer
global expo for personal care ingre- consumers, while the second award, health firm, Kenvue, which will recog-
dients, scheduled to be held from 16- the ‘Sustainable Stand Award’, will nise applicants’ performances in areas
18 April 2024 in Paris, has announced recognise exhibitors for implement- such as how the entry addresses an
the introduction of two new award cate- ing eco-conscious measures when unmet consumer need, the credibility of
gories at the In-cosmetics Global Awards. designing and building their stands. The the entry and whether it is backed up
These include the ‘Kenvue Trusted ‘Kenvue Trusted Science Award’ will by scientific and/or clinical validation
Science Award’ focused on modern and be sponsored and judged by an expert data, responsible sourcing, and more.

Chemical Weekly March 5, 2024 155

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