Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator, and CPI, a UK technology innovation centre, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a Joint Venture (JV) to accelerate the development of RNA-based therapies.
Quotient Sciences' Translational Pharmaceutics platform and CPI's knowledge in the small-scale manufacture of RNA and LNP encapsulation will be combined by the JV to create an integrated offering for the development of mRNA drug products. The JV aims to meet the growing industry's demand for solutions that bring new RNA therapeutics to patients with greater speed and confidence.
Thierry Van Nieuwenhove, CEO at Quotient Sciences, said, "This is a pivotal moment for RNA drug development. The combined innovation and deep technical expertise of Quotient and CPI will enable developers to benefit from a vastly accelerated supply chain, with clinical batches going from plasmid to clinical dose in as little as two months. This offers a highly streamlined pathway to early-phase clinical trials for mRNA drug candidates".
The JV will integrate mRNA synthesis, LNP formulation development, clinical manufacturing, and early-phase clinical testing into a single framework. Being able to transition from DNA to RNA and into clinical trials quickly will shorten timelines and increase the chances of clinical success, as drug developers will gain the ability to adjust dose and formulation parameters based on real-time clinical data from human volunteers.
Frank Millar, CEO at CPI, said, "We're proud to be partnering with Quotient Sciences on this initiative, which represents a bold step forward for the RNA ecosystem. Our shared vision is to enable scalable and sustainable development pathways for mRNA therapies that meet global health challenges head-on."
