The E&M "Luca AI Cell Accelerates New Drug Development Including Gene Therapy with LNP Core Patent Technology"

The E&M announced on the 15th that its affiliate, Luca AI Cell, is accelerating the development of new drugs such as messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines and various gene therapies by utilizing its proprietary patent technology for LNP (Lipid Nano Particle).

These studies are being conducted through partnerships with various specialized institutions including Seoul National University Hospital, MCurex, Chonnam National University Hospital, and CHA University. Among these, Luca AI Cell is developing the LNP component, which is the core of the drug delivery system (DDS).

Luca AI Cell's proprietary technology includes technology for self-developed ionizable lipids, which are raw materials for LNP, and the LNP manufacturing method called 'LUCA Cycle™.' The Luca LNP manufacturing method, which combines these two technologies, uses its own library to select optimal lipids and determine manufacturing methods according to the characteristics of the drug (API), enabling the creation of various LNP structures.

This manufacturing technology allows for efficient and safe LNP-based new drug development compared to traditional manufacturing methods, and the company expects to secure global competitiveness.

Luca AI Cell has developed 24 types of proprietary ionizable lipids and has completed provisional patent applications. This allows them to avoid patents related to ionizable lipids that have been preempted by global companies.

Luca AI Cell's proprietary ionizable lipids differ from existing ionizable lipids by adjusting the chain length, which improves the structural stability of LNP and enhances productivity through increased solubility. As a result, while COVID mRNA vaccines required strict storage conditions at minus 70°C, Luca AI Cell's LNP drugs can be stored long-term at 4°C.

Additionally, research is underway on technology that can deliver drugs to various target organs and cells where drug delivery was previously difficult. Luca AI Cell has completed the development of LNPs targeting the lung, spleen, and brain.

Furthermore, Luca AI Cell has developed a new type of automated LNP manufacturing equipment called ‘LUCA CyclerTM,’ which uses the principle of thermodynamic shock. This product is divided into lab-scale research equipment and commercial equipment for mass production. The company explained, “This equipment reduces manufacturing costs to one-tenth to one-twenty-fifth of the existing methods and enables avoidance of patents held by existing global monopoly companies.”

Professor Eunju Lee of Seoul National University Hospital, who is jointly researching LNP-based lung disease therapeutics with Luca AI Cell, said, “Seoul National University Hospital, supported by the research-oriented hospital project, was looking for technology applicable to core gene therapy substances and LNP raw material combinations when we encountered Luca AI Cell’s LNP platform technology.” She added, “By utilizing Luca AI Cell’s technology and production facilities in this research, rapid progress in preclinical research and production of test drugs is possible, and we expect to secure the market for targeted disease therapeutics.”

In addition, Luca AI Cell is jointly developing ocular disease therapeutics with MCurex and noise-induced hearing loss therapeutics with Chonnam National University Hospital and CHA University.

MCurex CEO Sunwoo Hong said, “To develop therapeutics, it is necessary to selectively deliver gene therapy substances to specific cells in the eye, and we aim to overcome this through collaboration with Luca AI Cell,” expressing expectations for synergy. Professor Seongsu Lee of Chonnam National University Hospital said, “We have conducted long-term research on hearing loss using virus-based drug delivery systems, but there were limitations in the safety and efficacy of clinical drugs,” and added, “We expect accelerated development of therapeutics using Luca AI Cell’s LNP library and manufacturing technology.”

Luca AI Cell’s LNP proprietary technology can also be applied to functional cosmetics and health supplements beyond new drug development. They are conducting research and commercialization to stabilize and enhance bioavailability by applying Luca’s technology to various functional cosmetic ingredients such as Teca, Idebenone, and Glutathione, as well as various health supplement ingredients like Omega-3.

Dr. Namjun Cho, a distinguished professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore leading Luca AI Cell’s research and development, said, “We are preparing to produce drugs for clinical research in Korea and the United States by applying strict evaluation technologies to the drugs produced with our self-developed LNP manufacturing equipment.” He added, “Scale-up is the key to commercialization,” and continued, “We completed the production of mass production equipment applying related technologies last year and are focusing on joint new drug development with various domestic and international partners using this equipment.”