Curapath and Cayman Chemical have announced a strategic partnership that will significantly expand global access to PEG-free shielding lipids for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) research, addressing critical safety concerns in gene therapy, mRNA vaccines, and biologic drug delivery applications.
The collaboration leverages Cayman Chemical's extensive global distribution network to make Curapath's proprietary polysarcosine (pSar) and polyaminoacid-based shielding lipids widely available to researchers worldwide. These specialized lipids are developed and manufactured at Curapath's headquarters in Valencia, Spain, and provide what the company describes as "a non-toxic, non-immunogenic, and biodegradable alternative to traditional PEGylated lipids, without compromising efficacy in LNP formulations."
Addressing PEGylated Lipid Limitations
The partnership directly responds to growing concerns about polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based lipids, which have been the standard for shielding LNPs from immune detection. According to Curapath, PEGylated lipids' "association with immunogenicity and adverse reactions is driving the search for better solutions." The company's PEG-free polymers are designed to "address these challenges head-on, giving researchers a safe and effective option to advance next-generation therapies."
Beyond the core pSar lipids, the partnership will also make available additional high-quality polymers, including poly(lysine) and poly(glutamic acid), as well as cationic polymers specifically optimized for gene transfection applications.
Strategic Collaboration Benefits
The agreement brings together complementary expertise from both organizations. Cayman Chemical contributes its chemical synthesis capabilities and global distribution infrastructure, while Curapath provides specialized knowledge in lipid-based drug delivery systems and GMP manufacturing expertise.
"At Curapath, we believe this collaboration is more than just product availability — it's about accelerating innovation," the company stated. "By combining Cayman's global reach with our science-driven innovation and GMP manufacturing expertise, we are helping researchers translate their discoveries into real therapeutic impact."
The partnership aims to support advancements across multiple therapeutic areas, including non-viral drug delivery, gene therapy, mRNA vaccines, and biologic therapies, providing researchers with alternatives that could potentially reduce the immune responses and adverse effects sometimes associated with traditional PEG-based formulations.
