ST Pharm has broadened its global market reach by securing a patent in Japan for the key ingredient of its lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform, a crucial technology in mRNA delivery.
The company announced on Monday that it has successfully registered patents in Japan for STP1244, an ionizable lipid that serves as the core component of its proprietary mRNA-LNP platform STLNP, as well as for the LNP formulation (STL1244) that incorporates it.
This patent marks a significant milestone as the first registration among STLNP-related patents. The company emphasized its importance in securing rights not only for the formulation technology but also for the essential materials that determine LNP performance, officially validating the originality and sophistication of their technology.
LNPs are indispensable carriers for delivering mRNA into cells, with ionizable lipids playing a pivotal role in delivery efficiency and endosomal escape. ST Pharm’s in-house designed and developed STP1244 enhances mRNA’s intracellular delivery efficiency while ensuring stability during the process.
This patent acquisition allows ST Pharm to establish a comprehensive technology portfolio, from core materials to finished formulations, bolstering its intellectual property (IP) position in the global market. The company stated that this achievement solidifies its technological foundation as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in the rapidly expanding mRNA vaccine and therapeutic market.
ST Pharm is currently pursuing patent examinations in nine countries, including key markets such as South Korea, the U.S., Europe, and China, with plans to further expand its global intellectual property (IP) rights.
A spokesperson for ST Pharm stated that following last year’s SmartCap patent registration in Japan, securing the STLNP patent means we now possess both core platform technologies essential for mRNA drug development. This positions them to play a pivotal role in advancing mRNA cancer vaccines and in vivo CAR-T therapies.