Calling all RNA biotechs — let's collaborate

ATA Scientific is helping Australia build a world-class RNA science-based biotech industry.

Australia is host to some of the world’s leading experts in RNA science. The inaugural A-RNA Conference held during May this year in Thredbo, NSW, brought together much of the RNA biotechnology community to discuss the latest developments, with speakers including Melissa Moore (Moderna), Dan Peer (Tel Aviv) and national speakers Tim Bredy (UQ), Eduardo Eyras (ANU), Sue Fletcher (Murdoch/PYC Therapeutics) and Damien Purcell (Doherty Institute). The event facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities for both academics and industry to enable a world-class Australian Genetic Medicine ecosystem to be built comprising RNA-based R&D and biotech industries.

Several initiatives have already started to take shape in Australia, as a direct result from collaborations between scientists and government, particularly following the National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable¹ and the announcement of the government’s Modern Manufacturing Inititiative.² With over 250 years of collective experience in working with RNA, the Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation brings together experts in RNA biology from across the ACT region to focus their expertise in RNA biology to deliver innovative research for RNA-based health care.³ The UNSW RNA Institute (RNAI), Australia’s leading RNA science, therapeutics and translational facility, has officially opened.⁴ 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”⁴. RNA-based technology offers more than just vaccines, it has the potential to also treat disorders such as arthritis, cancer and malaria and for plants and animals improve productivity and reduce environmental pressures.⁵ The new BASE facility located at the University of Queensland is a leading national facility for manufacturing and research of mRNA technologies to support the next generation of advances in health, industry and agriculture.⁶

But the question is: are we ready to take these RNA breakthroughs to the next level and scale up to manufacture locally? Yes, we are already making this happen using the NanoAssemblr from Precision NanoSystems.

The NanoAssemblr platform from Precision NanoSystems (PNI) enables the rapid, reproducible and scalable manufacture of nanoparticle formulations such as LNPs to encapsulate RNA. Particle size can be fine-tuned to create highly reproducible LNPs with high encapsulation efficacy and potency within seconds. NxGen microfluidics mixing technology simplifies and accelerates nanomedicine formulation by enabling all scales of development through one single mixing element — from formulation to full GMP. To address challenges of limited access to ionisable lipids, PNI has developed a proprietary ionisable lipid library and a commercially available LNP reagent mix, GenVoy-ILM, that allows for rapid preclinical development of RNA vaccines.

This technology is clearly a gamechanger particularly for the biotech industry and a catalyst for all research scientists in this field. Let’s not overlook the astounding work by Prof Colin Pouton of Monash University — Australia’s first RNA Vaccine⁷ using this platform.

Let us help transform your RNA world

ATA Scientific has been at the forefront in the development of a Genetic Medicine Ecosystem in Australia. We are committed to establishing 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, to request a demo or a meeting to discuss your project. Call Peter Davis 0417 778 971 or email pdavis@atascientific.com.au.

For more information: https://www.atascientific.com.au/products/nanoassemblr-ignite-2/.

References

1. Proceedings—National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable | Australian Academy of Science https://bit.ly/3Omj1J3
2. Enabling Australia’s onshore mRNA manufacturing capability: approach to market https://bit.ly/3IFEEkG
3. Towards leadership: Australia’s priorities in RNA science and technology https://bit.ly/3v6CXcf
4. Australia’s RNA capability strengthens as UNSW RNA Institute opens https://bit.ly/3IKQs5y
5. Can Australia build a world-leading RNA science-based biotech industry? https://bit.ly/3B4MDb3
6. Synthetic RNA DNA manufacture (basefacility.org.au) https://bit.ly/3PnHcbs
7. Victoria makes Australia’s First mRNA vaccine candidate https://bit.ly/3zmczh5