4basebio and TriLink BioTechnologies will provide DNA starting material and mRNA manufacturing services for an unnamed multinational pharmaceutical company’s planned Phase 1 cell therapy trial.
Under the agreement, Cambridge, U.K.-based 4basebio will supply clinical-grade synthetic DNA produced through its opDNA platform. TriLink, a Maravai LifeSciences company, has been selected as the contract development and manufacturing organization responsible for producing the mRNA drug substance.
TriLink will use its CleanCap co-transcriptional capping technology during mRNA production. The arrangement places 4basebio’s DNA material at the beginning of a manufacturing process that TriLink will use to produce mRNA for the cell therapy program.
The collaboration extends 4basebio’s existing relationship with the pharmaceutical customer into cell therapy, the company said Sept. 28. The customer was not identified, and the companies did not name the therapy or its intended disease indication.
4basebio specializes in enzymatically produced DNA for genetic medicines. Its opDNA material is intended for use as a starting material in place of plasmid DNA in certain manufacturing processes. TriLink provides mRNA manufacturing services and capping technology.
Christine Wolosin, 4basebio’s chief commercial officer, said the agreement allows its DNA material to be used within TriLink’s established manufacturing workflow. TriLink Senior Vice President of Global Sales Chad Decker said the companies will supply the program from DNA template through mRNA drug substance.