German RNA biotech Ethris has announced a strategic partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific aimed at delivering fully integrated mRNA solutions to biopharmaceutical developers.
The collaboration aims at expanding global access to Ethris’ next-generation mRNA technologies, streamlining the path from research to clinical development. At the heart of this alliance is Ethris’ proprietary Stabilized Non-Immunogenic mRNA (SNIM RNA) platform, designed to overcome the traditional challenges of mRNA therapeutics—namely, instability and immunogenicity.
Ethris’ approach enables repeat administration without triggering adverse immune responses, and can be delivered via multiple routes, including inhalation and intramuscular injection. These features position the technology to serve as a foundation for developing protein replacement therapies, immune-modulating treatments, and vaccines.
Thermo Fisher will contribute its end-to-end Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant capabilities. This integration is expected to significantly reduce time-to-clinic for developers seeking high-quality, scalable mRNA solutions.
Ben Castro, Vice President and General Manager of Large Molecule Drug Substance at Thermo Fisher, said: “By partnering with Ethris, we are expanding our services to include cutting-edge mRNA manufacturing, empowering our customers to bring life-changing treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.”
The collaboration with Thermo Fisher is one of several recent moves by Ethris to strengthen its manufacturing and development capabilities. The company previously announced a partnership with Lonza to co-develop room-temperature-stable, spray-dried mRNA vaccines—a project supported by a $5 million grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Additionally, a $10 million grant from the EU4Health program is backing the expansion of antiviral applications for ETH47.
Positive Phase I Results Pave the Way for ETH47 Phase II Trial
The strategic partnership comes on the heels of promising Phase I clinical trial results for Ethris’ lead candidate, ETH47. The trial, which evaluated the safety, tolerability, and target engagement of the therapy in 40 healthy participants, demonstrated localized, dose-dependent expression of interferon lambda (IFNλ) following nasal administration. Importantly, no systemic bioavailability was detected, mitigating the risk of off-target effects.
ETH47 is designed to prevent asthma exacerbations by targeting the upstream viral triggers, specifically through the induction of antiviral interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the respiratory tract. This mechanism is especially relevant given the significant burden viral infections place on asthma sufferers.
The therapy’s safety profile was robust: ETH47 was well tolerated across all dose levels, with no severe or serious adverse events reported. The trial also confirmed pharmacodynamic activity, with nasal brush samples revealing a dose-dependent activation of antiviral genes.
Dr. Thomas Langenickel, Chief Medical Officer at Ethris, presented the topline data at the mRNA-Based Therapeutics Summit Europe in January 2025, stating: “These positive Phase I results reinforce the promise of ETH47 as a potentially safe and transformative treatment option for asthma patients, while also validating our SNIM and SNaP proprietary technology platforms as a viable delivery option for mRNA therapeutics to the respiratory tract.”
Encouraged by the results, Ethris has filed a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for a Phase IIa study. Slated to begin in the second quarter (Q2) 2025, the trial will evaluate ETH47’s efficacy in reducing lower respiratory symptoms in asthma patients following controlled rhinovirus infection.
