interleukin-12 mRNA lipid nanoparticle

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) therapy is an immunotherapy approach designed to deliver the genetic instructions for the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12 directly into cells. IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine (composed of p35 and p40 subunits) that coordinates innate and adaptive immune responses by activating natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and promoting the differentiation of naive T cells into Th1 cells. Because systemic administration of recombinant IL-12 protein has historically been limited by severe toxicity, mRNA-LNP technology allows for localized production (often via intratumoral injection) or controlled expression of the cytokine. This strategy aims to stimulate a robust anti-tumor immune response and overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Key clinical candidates in this space include MEDI1191 (developed by AstraZeneca and Moderna) and BNT153 (developed by BioNTech).

Other names

IL-12 mRNA LNPIL12 mRNA LNPIL 12 mRNA LNPmRNA-encoded IL-12