Mirai Bio and A*STAR Formed Lung Delivery Partnership
The research collaboration aims to bypass biological barriers for delivering nucleic acid medicines to lung tissue.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Mirai Bio and the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology have announced a research collaboration to advance nucleic acid delivery to the lungs. This effort is currently in the research stage, focusing on targeting lung epithelial and endothelial cells.
Why it matters
Delivering nucleic acid medicines to tissues beyond the liver remains a fundamental challenge due to complex physiological barriers. This research partnership aims to develop new delivery mechanisms that could enable future therapeutic programs.
The project combines Mirai's proprietary lipid nanoparticle delivery engine with A*STAR IMCB's expertise in ligand discovery and endothelial biology. Researchers are utilizing proprietary in vivo data and machine learning algorithms to optimize the design of these delivery vehicles.
The players
Mirai Bio
A Cambridge-based biotechnology firm focused on developing advanced lipid nanoparticle platforms for systemic nucleic acid delivery.
A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
A Singapore-based research institute that focuses on cell biology, organelle function, and the underlying mechanisms of human disease.
The details
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) — small fatty spheres used to transport genetic material into cells — struggle to reach tissues outside the liver due to natural biological clearance mechanisms. This collaboration seeks to overcome these barriers by targeting lung epithelial cells, which line the interior surfaces of the lungs, and endothelial cells, which form the lining of blood vessels. By integrating machine learning with biological ligand identification, the researchers aim to refine LNP surface chemistry for more precise tissue localization.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: Mirai Bio and A*STAR announced their research collaboration.
The Tech Race
This effort operates within the broader Flagship Pioneering and A*STAR institutional partnership. It joins a competitive global landscape of research programs attempting to move nucleic acid therapeutics beyond hepatic delivery through engineered nanoparticle platforms.
This development is currently in the research phase and does not yet impact clinical workflows or patient treatment options. Its success could eventually inform the design of future nucleic acid medicine programs that reach tissues previously considered unreachable by current LNP technology.
The takeaway
The success of this collaboration will be measured by whether the partners can effectively translate their machine-learning-optimized nanoparticle designs into functional tissue-specific delivery. Interested observers should monitor future peer-reviewed findings or intellectual property filings related to the project's nanoparticle performance benchmarks.
Further reading
For context on the broader scientific landscape, visit Life Sciences.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Firstwordpharma.
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