In this next interview Dr. Jurgen Dieker, CSO at Mercurna (Netherlands) shares with us his personal experience working in a biotech start-up and reveals what motivates to co-found Mercurna.

Dr. Jurgen Dieker, CSO at Mercurna who is a beneficiary of the NANEMIAR Project, explains to us what his role is within NANEMIAR.

Hi, Jurgen! Thank you very much for accepting our invitation to this interview. First, could you explain your role within the NANEMIAR project?

Within NANEMIAR, Mercurna focuses on the development of therapeutic mRNA and targeted lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based delivery systems. My role covers the design and preparation of the key components of our targeted therapy, including the therapeutic mRNA, lipid nanoparticles, and targeting peptides. In addition, I coordinate the design of the in vitro studies used to evaluate targeting specificity, delivery efficiency, and therapeutic activity. Working closely with our partners at FFIS-IMIB and CNRS, I support the evaluation of the developed formulations and help coordinate their further testing and optimization.

What are the main challenges in designing a novel targeted mRNA therapy?

One of the main challenges in designing a novel targeted mRNA therapy is ensuring that all components work together effectively to achieve safe and selective delivery to the target cells. This requires careful design of the therapeutic mRNA to achieve sufficient expression and therapeutic activity, while minimizing unwanted immune responses. In addition, the lipid nanoparticles must efficiently protect and deliver the mRNA, and the targeting ligands need to provide high specificity for the desired cell type while avoiding uptake by non-target tissues. Successfully balancing efficacy, specificity, stability, and safety is therefore a key challenge in the development of targeted mRNA therapies.

What makes the NANEMIAR approach different from therapies?

Current treatment options mainly focus on managing the disease symptoms or correcting the underlying genetic defect. Within NANEMIAR, we are exploring a different approach based on targeted mRNA therapy. Instead of permanently modifying the patient's DNA, therapeutic mRNA can temporarily provide cells with the instructions needed to produce a functional protein. By combining this with targeted lipid nanoparticles designed to selectively deliver the mRNA to the relevant cells, we aim to increase treatment efficiency while minimizing effects on non-target tissues. This approach could offer a more flexible and potentially safer alternative that combines the advantages of mRNA technology with highly specific delivery. Furthermore, it could represent a potential alternative for patients who are not candidates for gene therapy.

How does collaboration between the different NANEMIAR partners contribute to the success of the project?

NANEMIAR brings together complementary expertise from multiple partners. At Mercurna, we focus on the design and development of the therapeutic mRNA and targeted delivery systems, while our partners contribute expertise in areas such as disease biology, advanced testing models, and therapeutic evaluation in patient cells. This multidisciplinary collaboration enables us to address challenges from different angles and accelerates the translation of innovative concepts into potential therapeutic solutions.

What originally motivated you to co-found Mercurna?

Mercurna was founded from the belief that mRNA technology has the potential to transform the way we treat many diseases, provided we can deliver it safely and efficiently to the right cells. During my academic experience, I saw both the enormous promise of mRNA therapeutics and the challenges associated with targeted delivery. This motivated us to establish Mercurna, with a focus on developing innovative delivery technologies that can unlock the full potential of mRNA-based medicines. Our goal is to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into therapies that can ultimately make a meaningful difference for patients.

Source of information: NANEMIAR project