LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG (“LTS”), a global leading pharmaceutical technology company in the development and manufacture of innovative dosage forms, is pleased to announce the award as winner in the concept phase for two projects in the #PatchForwardPrize. This competition, launched by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), is part of BARDA’s $50 million innovation program aimed at advancing microneedle-based RNA vaccine technologies.
The Patch Forward Prize is part of BARDA’s Project NextGen initiative, which aims to accelerate next-generation vaccine technologies. By fostering partnerships between vaccine developers and pharmaceutical delivery system innovators, it advances progress from concept to clinical testing, paving the way for transformative advances in global health. Each of the prizes announced today is worth $2 million, to be split between LTS and its partners.
In the winning projects, LTS combines its proprietary Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) technology with mRNA vaccines from two partners: BioNet, a biotechnology manufacturer from Thailand that specializes in genetically engineered vaccines, and PopVax, an Indian biotechnology company that broadly creates protective mRNA vaccines using AI for protein engineering. Both projects aim to address critical challenges in vaccine stability, delivery and adaptability and to improve patient access and compliance with seasonal influenza vaccines. At the same time, the flexibility to respond to pandemic strains is maintained.
BioNet’s approach addresses the ongoing problem of influenza strain variability by developing a trivalent seasonal mRNA influenza vaccine (mIV3) that utilizes retained portions of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins of the dominant H1N1 , H3N2 and B flu viruses. These mRNA constructs are specifically selected to generate a broadly protective immune response against seasonal influenza.
PopVax is leading the development of a seasonal influenza vaccine based on their novel mRNA-encoded immunogen display architecture and LNP platform. PopVax’s immunogen design increases strain-specific antibody response in mice by 250-fold compared to a leading approved influenza vaccine, resulting in significantly lower dosage requirements. This approach also triggers a broader immune response, including robust antibody titers against the pandemic H5N1 strain, which is a growing threat in the US, despite not encoding a specific H5N1 immunogen.
Bas van Buijtenen, CEO of LTS, comments: “As a pioneer in drug delivery, we are passionate about solutions that deliver better outcomes and a better patient experience. We are grateful and proud that BARDA’s Patch Forward Award creates an opportunity for BioNet, PopVax and LTS to achieve a breakthrough in vaccine delivery. We look forward to realizing the potential of combining our technologies in our joint programs.”
“The LTS MAP program is proud to have received these two awards alongside our partners PopVax and BioNet for their innovative mRNA technologies,” added Dr. Frank Theobald, head of the MAP program at LTS, added. “The BARDA Patch Forward Prize enables the combination of two groundbreaking technologies to be better prepared for future pandemics. BARDA’s financial support will help advance MAP technology toward commercialization to address gaps in medical care – providing self-administration capabilities and reducing cold chain requirements for mRNA.”
About LTS
We CARE. We CREATE. We DELIVER. This is the philosophy of LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG. As a reliable technology partner for the pharmaceutical industry, we develop and produce innovative application systems for pharmaceuticals such as Transdermal Therapeutic Systems (“TTS”), Oral Active Ingredient Films (“OTF”), Micro Array Patches (“MAP”) and Wearable Injection Devices (“OBDS”) for large bio/pharmaceutical, generics and consumer health companies. LTS’s commercial offering includes more than 20 marketed products and a diverse pipeline of more than 40 development projects targeting various medical therapeutic approaches. The LTS innovation pipeline includes both partner-funded and own LTS-funded projects. LTS maintains its leadership position through the continued development of its core TTS and OTF technologies, as well as the development of new drug delivery technologies, including MAPs for the transdermal delivery of biologics, large molecules and vaccines. With its SorrelTM wearable drug delivery platform, LTS offers patient-friendly solutions for administering complex medications at home. LTS was founded in 1984 and today operates in four locations: Andernach, Germany, West Caldwell and St. Paul, USA, and Netanya, Israel. LTS also has a representative office in Shanghai, China.