Key points from article :
Munich-based leon-nanodrugs (LEON) has developed a reactor to enhance lipid nanoparticle (LNP) production, which plays a crucial role in the pharmaceutical and gene transfer fields. According to LEON’s CFO, Christian Nafe, this reactor allows for aseptic encapsulation of transfection materials such as mRNA and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It supports production from the preclinical stages to full market supply, bridging a crucial gap in the efficient scaling of nanoparticle-based products.
The reactor was produced in collaboration with the manufacturing company Harro Höfliger, which ensured that the equipment aligns with good manufacturing practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical use. This innovation forms the core of LEON's NANOnow platform, which is designed to provide faster and more efficient production processes, specifically for LNPs and gene transfer applications. LEON’s platform thus promises biopharmaceutical companies a streamlined path from laboratory research to full-scale production.
An essential feature of LEON's reactor is its modular system, which allows for interchangeable nozzles ranging from 100 µm to 500 µm in diameter. This level of customization enables a remarkably consistent control over particle size, achieving high reproducibility, a critical factor for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of nanoparticle-based therapies. Dr. Frank Stieneker, LEON’s Chief Scientific Officer, emphasized the precision of the reactor, noting that particle size deviation is as low as 2 µm, a remarkable achievement in nanoparticle production.
With this reactor, LEON is positioned to meet the growing demands of the biopharmaceutical industry, particularly in delivering solutions for mRNA-based therapies and gene transfer technologies. The company’s achievement signals a step forward in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, providing an innovative tool for faster and scalable production of nanoparticles that could support a wide range of therapeutic applications.
