BioTech IP Review

Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Compositions for mRNA Delivery

US 10,703,789 B2

Filing date: June 12, 2019
Patent granted: July 7, 2020
Assignee: ModernaTX, Inc. (Moderna)

What This Patent Covers

This patent claims specific lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations that encapsulate modified messenger RNA (mRNA) for use in vaccines and other mRNA-based medicines. It defines:

  • Lipid nanoparticles made up of a mixture of:
    • a cationic lipid,
    • a neutral lipid,
    • cholesterol, and
    • a PEGylated lipid,
      with a controlled average particle size (about 80–160 nm).
  • The modified mRNA typically contains structures like a 5′-cap, untranslated regions, and N1-methyl-pseudouridine instead of regular uridine to improve stability and reduce immune activation.

These components together create nanoparticles that protect fragile mRNA and allow efficient delivery into human cells — a critical enabling technology for effective mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.

Why It’s Lucrative and Strategic

Foundation of Moderna’s mRNA Vaccine Platform

Although Moderna’s genome-encoded vaccine technology builds on earlier inventions (and patent disputes continue around who owns which pieces of the LNP technology), the LNP compositions protected by this patent are core to Moderna’s mRNA delivery system, including its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax®.

Huge Revenue from mRNA Vaccines

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine technology generated billions in revenue globally — for example, Spikevax was a multibillion-dollar product in multiple years following pandemic approvals. The underlying LNP delivery platform is intrinsic to that commercial success.

Platform Value Beyond COVID-19

LNP systems developed in this patent are not just vaccines — they’re used for delivering a wide range of mRNA payloads. This enables Moderna to pursue multiple indications (infectious diseases, cancer, rare diseases), expanding the potential commercial value of this platform.

Summary

Patent: US 10,703,789 B2
Filed: June 12, 2019
Focus: Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations to encapsulate and deliver modified mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.
Importance: Core enabling IP for Moderna’s mRNA delivery platform, crucial to Spikevax® success and future mRNA medicines, with broad commercial and strategic value

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