De-risking mRNA-LNP cancer immunotherapy: What developers can learn from the CancerVax-Cytiva collaboration

Wednesday 08:00 PDT / 11:00 EDT / 16:00 BST / 17:00 CEST

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De-risking mRNA-LNP cancer immunotherapy: <i> What developers can learn from the CancerVax-Cytiva collaboration </i>

Live30 webinars pack the latest innovations and applications into a data-rich 30-minute session.

Developing mRNA-LNP cancer immunotherapies requires more than promising biology. Teams must make early decisions around payload design, targeted delivery, formulation, translational readouts, safety, and manufacturability. This webinar uses the CancerVax-Cytiva collaboration as a case study to explore how these decisions can be connected earlier to help de-risk the path from preclinical development toward clinical manufacturing.

Rather than focusing on a single technology, the session will show how the collaborators worked across mRNA design, LNP composition, biodistribution, tolerability, and scale-up considerations to build a more integrated development story.

Attendees will review in vitro and in vivo datasets evaluating Smart mRNA regulation, targeted LNP biodistribution, tumour-specific payload expression, safety, and manufacturability. The session will include data on selective ON/OFF mRNA activity in cancer versus healthy cells, T-cell activation through viral epitope expression, reduced liver accumulation of targeted LNPs, favorable tolerability following repeated dosing, and tumor growth inhibition in preclinical mouse models. Participants will gain practical insights into applying these findings to optimise LNP composition, strengthen translational confidence, and establish a scalable path towards clinical manufacturing.

Attend this webinar to:

Learn how CancerVax and Cytiva approached key mRNA-LNP cancer immunotherapy development decisions across payload design, targeted delivery, formulation, translational assessment, and manufacturing readiness
Explore how CancerVax's universal cancer immunotherapy platform combines targeted LNP delivery with Smart mRNA technology to selectively activate anti-tumour immune responses while reducing healthy tissue activity
Review preclinical datasets evaluating targeted biodistribution, regulated mRNA expression, tumour growth reduction, improved survival outcomes, and favourable safety and tolerability profiles
Gain practical strategies for selecting fit-for-purpose LNP compositions, evaluating translational readiness, and addressing key development risks before IND-enabling studies
Understand how early collaboration on formulation, lipid selection, manufacturing strategy, and scalability can support a more efficient path from preclinical development to GMP manufacturing

George Katibah, PhD

Chief Scientific Officer at CancerVax

George Katibah, Ph.D. is Chief Scientific Officer at CancerVax, where he leads the development of targeted lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems and programmable mRNA immunotherapies that selectively target cancer cells while activating anti-tumor immunity. He oversees the company’s scientific strategy, spanning targeted LNP engineering, precision mRNA therapeutics, translational biology, and preclinical development of CancerVax’s universal cancer immunotherapy platform.

Dr. Katibah has nearly two decades of experience advancing innovative therapeutics from early discovery through IND-enabling development across oncology, immunology, personalized medicine, and infectious diseases. Prior to joining CancerVax, he served as Director of Discovery Biology at RAPT Therapeutics, where he led oncology and inflammation discovery programs, and previously was Senior Scientist and Head of Biochemistry at Aduro Biotech, where he contributed to the development of first-in-human STING agonists and personalized cancer immunotherapies.

Throughout his career, Dr. Katibah has worked across diverse therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, antibody conjugates, vaccines, cell therapies, and nucleic acid therapeutics. He has authored more than 16 peer-reviewed publications, holds three issued U.S. patents with additional pending applications, and earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, following a B.S. in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Martin Rabel, PhD

Business Development & Licensing Manager at Cytiva

Martin Rabel, Ph.D. is a biopharma commercial leader with deep scientific expertise in advanced therapeutics, specializing in RNA delivery technologies and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) systems. At Cytiva, he leads the EMEA commercial strategy for BioPharma Services and proprietary LNP platforms, enabling partners across mRNA therapeutics, gene editing, and cell and gene therapy programs.

With a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a background in pharmacy, Martin combines strong technical acumen in nanomedicine, nucleic acid delivery, and CMC with a clear understanding of translational and manufacturing challenges. His work spans ex vivo and in vivo engineering approaches, including LNP-mediated delivery of mRNA and gene editing payloads to T cells, NK cells, and hematopoietic stem cells, as well as emerging in vivo immune cell engineering strategies.

He is particularly focused on the rational design and application of LNP systems for targeted delivery, scalable manufacturing, and clinical translation, supporting partners in advancing complex modalities from early development through to clinical readiness. By bridging deep scientific understanding with commercial execution, Martin translates cutting-edge platforms into robust development strategies, strategic partnerships, and tangible clinical impact in next-generation genetic medicines.

In 25 Days

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