Evonik Produces First Product Batch at New Lipid Innovation Center
Evonik has produced the first batch of GMP-grade pharmaceutical lipids at its new Lipid Innovation Center (LINC) in Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
With support from the US. government, Evonik’s large-scale production facility at its Tippecanoe site manufactures pharmaceutical lipids that enable the production of advanced medications in the United States. Full production capacity is expected to be reached by mid-2027.
“Behind every batch of lipids we produce here are patients waiting for a treatment that could change their lives,” says Guido Skudlarek, head of the Health Care Business Line. “The Lipid Innovation Center represents the next generation of RNA drugs, which we are developing and manufacturing reliably, at scale, and in the US. We are proud to strengthen America’s pharmaceutical supply chain and contribute to the health and well-being of patients across the country.”
LINC is a flexible production center for various lipid classes, manufacturing processes, and products. These are used in cancer immunotherapies, gene therapies, and vaccine technologies for the prevention of future infectious diseases. The first product from the new Lipid Innovation Center is PhytoChol, a non-animal-derived cholesterol and an essential excipient for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).
Lipids are crucial for the encapsulation and transport of nucleic acid-based drugs such as mRNA. Lipid nanoparticles, which have proven effective in COVID-19 vaccines, are now one of the leading drug delivery systems. The market for LNPs is projected to grow to an estimated $2.7 billion by 2034.
LINC is an integral part of Evonik’s strategy to expand its market leadership in lipid-based drug delivery technologies. It complements the company’s strong position in oral and parenteral drug delivery as well as in the area of pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services.
The Lipid Innovation Center is part of an integrated global network that combines expertise in lipid chemistry, LNP formulation, process development, sterile manufacturing, and regulatory requirements to support customers from the early development phase through to commercial supply.
This network offers a seamless workflow from formulation development through clinical manufacturing to commercial production. Evonik’s laboratories in Vancouver develop LNP formulations and support clinical manufacturing. Just last August, the company announced an investment in a new GMP facility. Late-stage clinical and commercial processes will be transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, US, while the sites in Dossenheim and Hanau, Germany, as well as Tippecanoe in the US, will supply the lipids and adjuvants. The Cambridge Innovation Satellite in Greater Boston, US, complements the network with additional R&D capabilities.
