Skip to main content

Sustainable Ionizable Lipids for Next-Generation mRNA Medicines

Enabling scalable, locally sourced solutions for vaccines and RNA therapeutics in emerging markets

Who we Are

Green Lipids is a biotechnology venture that is developing novel ionizable lipids derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) for use in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

Our mission is to enable cost-effective, scalable, and a regionally accessible lipid supply for mRNA vaccines, nucleic acid therapeutics and transfection reagents. The aim is to support global health equity and pandemic preparedness.

Download our information flyer

Announcing the scale-up of the project

The first lipid

Why it matters

Lipid nanoparticle components are critical for global deployment of mRNA technologies.

Current ionizable lipid supply chains for low- and middle-income countries:

  • are costly
  • have a limited supplier base
  • are vulnerable to disruption

Green Lipids addresses these drawbacks by enabling alternative, scalable, and locally adaptable ionizable lipid production.

Sustainable Feedstock

We utilise CNSL, a renewable by-product of the cashew nut industry, to develop ionizable lipids that reduce dependence on petrochemical-derived feedstocks.

mRNA Delivery Performance

Our ionizable lipid platform is designed to support efficient delivery of nucleic acids across a range of applications, including vaccines, transfections and gene-based medicines.

Local Manufacturing Enablement

We align with global health initiatives, including regional mRNA production in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.

HISTORY

Green Lipids builds on research developed within the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) at the School of Chemistry and the Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU). Green Lipids is also aligned with the broader WHO- and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)-supported mRNA technology transfer platform. Scale-up synthesis is being supported by the European Union and German Federal government through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Scientific Founders

Connor Stockley, Robin Klintworth and Charles de Koning from the Wits School of Chemistry

Kristie Bloom, Abdullah Ely, Patrick Arbuthnot and Dylan Kairuz from AGTRU