Success in mRNA therapeutics starts long before the first dose reaches a patient. It begins at the molecular level with intelligent construct design.
At etherna, from construct designing to optimized manufacturing processes are the strategic foundations of every mRNA therapeutic. Our design and upstream first approach deliver ultra-pure, high-expressing mRNA, built for scale and impact.
We believe that the quality of the final mRNA product is intrinsically linked to the precision and innovation behind its design. We meet customer expectations collaboratively by engineering custom constructs to consistently maximizing therapeutic potential from the very start.
💡 Beyond the Blueprint: Codon Optimization
It's not just about making the mRNA sequence but making it "translation-friendly" for the target cell. Our proprietary sequence optimization algorithm enhances the translation efficiency of the gene of interest by changing compatible codons.
Why sequence optimisation??
- Improved RNA integrity ensures that the full, functional genetic message is present.
- Enhanced expression means more of the desired therapeutic protein is produced from the same amount of mRNA.
The result is a cleaner, more functional mRNA that performs efficiently, a clear advantage in both discovery and clinical-stage developments.
UTR Optimization: Superior Performance, Proven Results
At etherna, we leverage our extensive research to offer a high-throughput screening platform of our proprietary UTR library. This allows us to identify the optimal UTR combinations tailored to maximize gene expression specifically in your cell type of interest, ensuring enhanced performance and efficiency in your applications.
Our recent in vivo studies, following intramuscular (IM) administration, show the superior capabilities of etherna's proprietary UTRs:
- Boost in Protein Expression: When evaluating luciferase (fLuc) mRNA-LNPs, our UTRs consistently delivered a substantially higher level of luminescence compared to benchmark UTRs, both at 24 and 48 hours. This translates to significantly more protein being produced in the body, a critical factor for therapeutic efficacy (Image 1).
- Antibody Titers: The real game-changer lies in immune response. In studies with HA mRNA, etherna's UTRs generated up to a 10-fold increase in anti-HA IgG titers for HA mRNA and 4-fold higher anti-Spike IgG titers for spike mRNA, compared to controls, demonstrating a profound impact on immunogenicity (Image 2).
Crafting the optimal UTR combination is key to unlocking mRNA's full potential, ensuring robust and sustained protein production.
Image 1: FLuc mRNA-LNPs
Image 2: HA mRNA or Spike mRNA-LNPs
🏭 Design to Delivery: A Manufacturing Strategy That Begins Upstream
Our commitment to quality doesn’t end with design. We’ve engineered an upstream-first manufacturing process approach that lays the groundwork for high-yield, ultra-pure mRNA minimizing the purification burden downstream.
During in vitro transcription (IVT), we precisely optimize enzyme ratios, reaction times, and temperature conditions to reduce impurities like double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and incomplete transcripts.
Here’s how upstream optimization helps streamline the entire mRNA manufacturing process:
- Reduces byproduct formation: Optimized IVT conditions limit the creation of dsRNA and incomplete mRNA fragments from the start
- Enables predictable product profiles: A cleaner upstream output empowers downstream teams to execute tailored purification processes, enhancing the effective removal of residual impurities
- Eliminates immune activation: With extremely low levels of residual dsRNA, our mRNA shows no signs of triggering innate immune responses
etherna can deliver scalable mRNA production with consistent quality from research-grade batches to GMP manufacturing. Whether you’re working at the milligram or multi-gram level, our platform ensures purity, potency, and reproducibility.
📊 Results You Can See and Trust
Our commitment to purity and performance is measurable. In a recent benchmark study of etherna’s off-the-shelf reporter mRNA, our constructs contain exceptionally lower levels of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) – a critical factor in ensuring safety and efficacy in multiple therapeutic applications. (Discover our high-quality, off-the-shelf reporter mRNAs)
Why does this matter?
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High mRNA integrity ensures efficient protein translation, stability, and reproducible performance in therapeutic and research applications
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Testing also shows our mRNA triggers the lowest innate immune activation compared to other manufacturers
These results reflect the strength of our design principles and the reliability of our integrated process. (Read for more information)
💰 Better by Design: How etherna’s pure mRNA Lowers the Cost of Innovation
1. Lower doses
Sequence engineered codons, UTRs, and optimized upstream processes lead to more achieving desired biological responses with less mRNA.
Cost benefit: Reduces raw material usage per vial/injection, a major cost factor.
2. Fewer Development Iterations
High-quality mRNA constructs that express robustly and avoid immune activation are less likely to fail in preclinical or early clinical stages.
Cost benefit: Saves money on repeated animal studies, analytical testing, and regulatory delays by reducing rounds of redesign, reformulation, or retesting.
3. Scalability without surprises
Consistently manufactured, well-designed mRNA allows for smooth process scale-up without unexpected failures or expensive revalidations.
Cost benefit: Reduces cost and time associated with tech transfer and enables predictable, scalable production from bench to bedside.
Bottom Line:
From intelligent design to optimized processes, we are committed to delivering quality RNA to bring your therapy to improve patient’s lives. etherna isn't just a CDMO. We are your mRNA-LNP partners, with the tools, science, expertise and scale to bring your therapy to life.
Let’s Advance Nucleic Acid Therapeutics - Together
If you're passionate about mRNA-LNP innovation, manufacturing excellence, and therapeutic impact. Let’s connect.
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