mRNA Momentum Builds as Ethris and Thermo Fisher Join Forces

New alliance solves key mRNA production barriers, speeding Ethris's SNIM RNA therapies like lead nasal spray candidate ETH47 toward market.

15 Jun 2025

On June 13, 2025, Ethris and Thermo Fisher Scientific announced a strategic partnership set to accelerate the development of next-generation mRNA medicines by overcoming a critical industry hurdle: manufacturing.

Ethris, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Munich, Germany, specializes in SNIM RNA, short for Stabilized Non-Immunogenic mRNA, designed to enhance the stability and safety of mRNA-based therapies. Thermo Fisher, a global life sciences powerhouse, brings the infrastructure and scale needed to reliably produce these therapies for clinical and commercial use.

At the heart of the alliance is a shared goal to create a seamless, end-to-end manufacturing pathway that compresses development timelines and unlocks access for emerging biotech firms. This is particularly vital as the demand for mRNA innovation surges in areas like respiratory illness, cancer, and seasonal vaccines.

Ethris's lead candidate, ETH47, exemplifies this momentum. The nasal spray therapy uses SNIM RNA to deliver interferon lambda directly to the respiratory tract. Phase I data show localized protein production with minimal systemic exposure, an encouraging signal for treating respiratory infections more safely and effectively.

For many early-stage companies, a lack of scalable production remains a deal-breaker. By combining Ethris's proprietary RNA platform with Thermo Fisher's global manufacturing reach, the partnership provides a powerful new model, especially for firms that lack internal infrastructure.

The next frontier in mRNA is not just about invention, it is about fast, reliable delivery at scale, said one analyst following the deal. While larger players like Moderna and BioNTech have built their own supply chains, smaller innovators need partnerships to compete.

Risks remain, including potential cost inflation and tighter regulatory scrutiny. Yet the benefits, greater consistency, faster development, and broader access, are driving new investment and collaboration across the field.

This deal positions Ethris to advance its pipeline more aggressively while reinforcing Thermo Fisher's role as a cornerstone of mRNA infrastructure. More broadly, it underscores a shift in biotech: the future belongs to those who can pair cutting-edge science with the means to bring it to life.