(Daewoong Pharmaceutical) Daewoong Pharmaceutical has received a patent allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for an ionizable lipid technology used in its eTurna messenger RNA delivery platform.The allowance indicates that the patent application has been approved, although Daewoong must complete additional procedures before the patent is formally registered and enforceable in the US.The patent covers ionizable lipids used to form lipid nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are used to encapsulate mRNA strands to allow it to reach targeted cells. The technology is a key component of mRNA-based treatments.Daewoong acquired the intellectual property for its Epigenetic Reprogramming of Aging platform in May. The platform uses mRNA to deliver reprogramming factors to aged cells with the aim of restoring some of their youthful functions without fully changing their identity.The company is using the technology to develop potential anti-aging treatments.According to the patent specification, LNP delivery to human skin fibroblasts and aged tissue promoted skin regeneration and reduced indicators associated with aging. The nanoparticles also demonstrated efficient delivery to immune cells, pointing to potential applications beyond skin-related treatments.The development comes as mRNA technology expands beyond vaccines for infectious diseases into areas such as cancer and other therapeutic applications. Moderna and Merck, for example, have advanced their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine into late-stage clinical development.“The US patent allowance marks an important step in strengthening Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s technological competitiveness in the global mRNA therapeutics market,” Daewoong CEO Park Sung-soo said.“We will accelerate the clinical development of our preclinical pipeline and pursue anti-aging treatments for the global market.”