Evonik & ST Pharm Partner for mRNA Development

Evonik has partnered with ST Pharm, a South Korean leader in gene therapy ingredients, to expand its services for RNA and nucleic acid treatments. This collaboration combines customized nucleic acids from ST Pharm with Evonik’s expertise in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and drug product development. Together, they aim to make the development of nucleic acid therapeutics more efficient, reducing complexity and speeding up the time it takes to bring these vital treatments to patients.

Faster Development for Life-Changing Treatments

Evonik’s Health Care business, part of its Nutrition & Care division, has been making significant investments in nucleic acid medicines. By offering system solutions—which integrate products, technologies, and services—the company is positioned to support its customers from the earliest stages of drug discovery all the way to the finished product.

“Speed matters in drug development, and this partnership helps simplify the process while offering integrated solutions. We’re excited to work with our customers to bring the next generation of nucleic acid therapeutics to life,” said Yann d'Hervé, Head of Evonik’s Health Care division.

ST Pharm’s Expertise in mRNA

ST Pharm, a contract manufacturer, has a strong reputation in providing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) like siRNAs, mRNA-LNPs, and small molecules. They’ve recently broadened their expertise to include oligonucleotides and enzymatic biotransformation for a full range of mRNA services.

A standout in ST Pharm’s portfolio is its proprietary SmartCap® technology, which helps optimize mRNA development with capping analogs that have already shown success in human clinical trials. This cutting-edge technology is a game-changer for mRNA drug development.

“Partnering with Evonik, which has manufacturing facilities in North America, allows us to tap into the global mRNA market and strengthen our relationships with existing customers,” said Kris S. Choi, Head of Marketing & BD at ST Pharm.

Advancing the mRNA Revolution Together

Evonik’s longstanding expertise in drug delivery has already made a difference in the development of complex parenteral and oral drug products. With this partnership, they’re positioned to play a crucial role in the growing nucleic acid therapeutics space. The LNP market, essential for the delivery of mRNA, is estimated to be worth over $600 million, and it’s expected to continue growing in the coming years.

By combining ST Pharm’s mRNA expertise with Evonik’s lipid and LNP capabilities, the collaboration will help accelerate the development of mRNA-based therapies, bringing us one step closer to new treatments for a variety of conditions.

This partnership represents a powerful alliance focused on advancing gene therapies, helping to bring RNA-based medicines to market faster and more effectively, ultimately improving patient outcomes and transforming how we treat diseases.