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Global CDMO AGC Biologics has announced a new partnership with Repair Biotechnologies to develop a first-of-its-kind mRNA therapy targeting atherosclerosis—one of the world’s leading causes of death. The work is being led on the biotech side by Repair Bio CEO and cofounder Reason. The goal is to produce a clinical-grade, lipid nanoparticle–encapsulated mRNA drug capable of stabilizing and shrinking dangerous plaque deposits in major arteries, addressing the root cause of heart attacks and strokes.
The therapy builds on Repair Biotechnologies’ research into breaking down toxic intracellular cholesterol, a process that contributes to plaque growth, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular aging. Unlike traditional cholesterol-lowering treatments, which mainly reduce LDL levels in the bloodstream, this approach aims to directly clear harmful cholesterol trapped inside cells—potentially reversing disease previously considered irreversible.
AGC Biologics brings its end-to-end mRNA manufacturing expertise to the partnership, including plasmid DNA production, mRNA synthesis, purification, and lipid nanoparticle formulation. Its Heidelberg facility, which contributed to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine supply chain, will serve as the manufacturing hub under EMA and FDA-compliant GMP standards. For emerging companies, such streamlined production can eliminate a major bottleneck that often slows early-stage cardiovascular innovation.
If successful, this collaboration could expand the role of mRNA technology well beyond infectious diseases and into chronic conditions tied to aging, metabolism, and cardiovascular decline. By directly targeting the cellular drivers of plaque formation, the therapy may represent a step toward true disease modification—an increasingly important frontier as cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of mortality.
