uniSTING mRNA

uniSTING mRNA is an investigational lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy encoding a universal STING (stimulator of interferon genes) mimic (uniSTING). Developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, uniSTING is designed with a polymeric architecture that self-assembles into tetrameric STING structures, driving the formation of endomembrane-independent STING polymers. This activates STING signaling independently of endogenous STING expression, which is often downregulated or absent in many tumors and hepatocytes. uniSTING preferentially activates the IRF3/type I interferon (IFN-I) pathway to promote antitumor and antiviral immune responses while minimizing the pro-tumorigenic and pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway. It is being investigated preclinically for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and various solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, and liver malignancies.

Other names

LNP-uniSTING-mRNALNP/uniSTINGuniversal STING mimic mRNA