Accelerating Australia's RNA Capabilities

It is one thing to invest into pure research, but to invest in a future that has, at its core, collaboration and accelerated development is a giant leap. Plus, for this research to be realised not only in country, but in NSW, is more than exciting.

The UNSW RNA Institute (RNAI), Australia’s leading RNA science, therapeutics, and translational facility, has officially opened¹. Countless hours of planning and developing have transpired; now the Director of the Institute, Professor Pall Thordarson, says “the RNA revolution is just getting started”¹.

How to Scale — easily

Having a platform to scale up a drug candidate in country is a gamechanger and a catalyst for all research scientists in this field. Previously it was so daunting, with what can only be described as an underwhelming random pathway. Australian and New Zealand RNA scientists (ANZRPC²) have begun to build the core requirements to emulate the Precision Nanosystems NanoAssemblr Platform³ that has proven to accelerate therapeutic drug development. In their recently published poster, ‘Accelerated Development of Self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) Vaccines using Microfluidics’⁴, the collaboration between Precision NanoSystems and Imperial College London concluded:

• LNP-based Vaccine candidates manufactured using the PNI NanoAssemblr^® platform showcased effective cellular and humoral immune response.
• SARS-CoV-2 self-amplifying RNA-LNP made with PNI proprietary ionizable lipid had similar Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) such as size (~60 nm), polydispersity (<0.2) and encapsulation efficiency (>90%) across all scales tested with two different LNP compositions.
• Downstream processing time and particle stability during large scale TFF should be considered as a critical parameter during scale up.
• Vaccine candidates made with PNI proprietary ionizable lipid and NxGen™ microfluidic platform protected hamsters in a SARS-CoV-2 challenge study.
   

These findings are expanded on in their earlier poster ‘Scale Up and Manufacturing of Self-amplifying RNA-LNPs for a COVID-19 Vaccine Using the NanoAssemblr GMP System’⁵ showing just how they achieved a vaccine in 9 months from project funding. It is astounding to see the theoretical scale concept come to fruition in such a way employing the NanoAssemblr Ignite, Blaze and GMP with NxGen microfluidics, confirming them as ‘A Disruptive Technology Enabling Transformative Medicine’.

London is Calling

As was the case in the darkest periods of the second world war, the COVID pandemic brought out the best of British research. Robin Shattock’s lab made strong advances with a Self-amplified RNA (saRNA) vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. This is exceptional research with incredible potential to transform vaccines. Dr Anna Blakney presented a webinar outlining how a saRNA differs from mRNA plus, importantly, how not all lipids are created equal⁶. We feel confident that in the future we will be announcing ‘Australia Calling’ now that we have the capacity to level the playing field for our scientists.

Investing in more than hope

Discussing the merits of the UNSW RNAI with the Hon Gabrielle Upton MP during the launch on 21 March 2022, it was considered this facility does more than translate medicine; it harvests possibility for our future crop of young scientists illuminating a robust pathway for their discoveries. RNA is not just for vaccines; RNA will transform medicine as we know it. This facility will turbocharge Australia’s presence in global genetic medicines, securing our sovereign capacity.

How can we help?

ATA Scientific are determined to help establish a network of scale-up platforms throughout Australia to service the growing research need to translate drug candidates through to the clinic. Contact ATA Scientific for more information about the NanoAssemblr range, request a demo or a meeting to discuss your project.

Call Peter Davis 0417 778 971 or email pdavis@atascientific.com.au.

References

1. Australia's RNA capability strengthens as UNSW RNA Institute opens https://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news-events/news/australias-rna-capability-strengthens-unsw-rna-institute-opens Website accessed 22 Mar 2022
2. Creating a Genetic Medicine Manufacturing Ecosystem Part 2 https://www.atascientific.com.au/creating-a-genetic-medicine-manufacturing-ecosystem-part-2/ Website accessed 22 Mar 2022
3. NanoAssemblr Platform https://www.precisionnanosystems.com/platform-technologies/product-comparison Website accessed 22 Mar 2022
4. Accelerated Development of Self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) Vaccines using Microfluidics https://www.precisionnanosystems.com/resources-and-community/knowledge-center/posters Website accessed 22 Mar 2022
5. Scale Up and Manufacturing of Self-amplifying RNA-LNPs for a COVID-19 Vaccine Using the NanoAssemblr^® GMP System https://www.precisionnanosystems.com/resources-and-community/knowledge-center/posters Website accessed 22 Mar 2022
6. Effect of saRNA Formulation on Protein Expression and Vaccine Immunology. https://youtu.be/z6DH2MJ0Gbg Website accessed 22 Mar 2022