Oligo Manufacturing Puts Emphasis on RNA

As more experimental DNA drugs move through the clinic and into large-scale trials, the demand for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing strategies is intensifying. Higher yields, greater purity, and lower production costs are the key drivers of new DNA synthesis technology. Similarly, as both therapeutic and research applications of RNA oligos increase dramatically, competition and price pressure are driving advances in RNA synthesis technology as well.

Although there has "not been a lot of good news in the last 12 months or so from an antisense DNA perspective, there are still plenty of promising second-generation chemistry drugs that are in the clinic and are progressing," says Gaby Silver, marketing manager at Kinovate Life Sciences, a new company solely held by Osaka, Japan-based Nitto Denko.

At the recent "TIDES" meeting, in Boston, Kinovate launched NittoPhase™, a novel solid support for oligo synthesis developed in collaboration with Isis Pharmaceuticals. The product is available in two grades: NittoPhaseTOS for high loading applications and NittoPhaseROS, composed of a bead with a lower loading capacity.

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