Strategy& Insider Podcast - Episode 43 with Dr. Kahina Lang

Why It Matters

Targeted mRNA delivery could transform treatment efficacy and safety by directing therapies to specific cells, accelerating the next wave of precision medicines and reducing systemic side effects. Merk’s hybrid startup-in-corporate model shows how big pharma can de-risk and scale complex delivery technologies faster by combining agility with established manufacturing and regulatory capabilities.

Summary

Dr. Kahina Lang, head of NextGen Drug Delivery at Merk Group, describes building an agile, startup-style international research unit of 40+ experts across three continents focused on organ- and cell-specific mRNA delivery using nanoparticle carriers. The team aims to direct mRNA therapies precisely to target tissues, leveraging corporate manufacturing, regulatory and IP resources while retaining startup speed and autonomy. Lang connects her leadership and resilience to a background in elite gymnastics and multicultural experience, and she outlines operational challenges in scaling delivery platforms and integrating with legacy R&D processes. The conversation highlights both technical progress in lipid nanoparticle engineering and strategic choices to balance innovation with quality and manufacturability.

Original Description

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Kahina Lang, Executive Director and Head of Next Gen Drug Delivery at Merck Group, to discuss her pioneering work developing targeted mRNA delivery systems using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. Kahina opens up about what it takes to launch and scale a startup-style venture inside the world's oldest pharma company, the science behind precision medicine breakthroughs, and where cell and gene therapies are headed next. From entrepreneurial thinking and digital-first R&D to open-innovation partnerships – discover how the next generation of therapeutics is making its way from bench to bedside.