Wacker Expands Service Offerings with Launch of Contract Research for Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies

Wacker reports that it is launching contract research services (CRS) at its biotech center in Munich for R&D-grade pDNA, RNA, and LNPs for preclinical studies. The new offering complements services of subsidiary CDMO Wacker Biotech, which has sites in Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S.

In addition to producing pDNA, RNA, and LNP formulations, Wacker’s CRS team says it offers construct design services, including plasmid and RNA construct design as well as RNA engineering and optimization via partners, e.g., UTR, poly(A) and cap optimization. Company scientists also conduct lipid library screening and lipid nanoparticle formulation and provide functional assays and analytical services.

By integrating early-stage R&D support with a globally interconnected GMP manufacturing network, CRS helps customers streamline development and reduce supply-chain fragmentation, maintains a Wacker spokesperson. The approach enables an accelerated path from design to delivery in the field of advanced therapies, while lowering risk and cost through resourcing in early phases and a scalable transfer to Wacker Biotech for clinical material, continued the company official.

“Every RNA or LNP project is unique. Our goal is to provide flexible, customizable services that adapt to our clients’ specific needs in a rapidly evolving landscape,” explained Christian Dubiella, the CRS global program manager. “Too often, innovative, potentially life-saving therapeutic concepts die on the vine due to the high cost of developing even small amounts of drug substance for R&D studies. Our CRS enable us to serve highly specialized customers, especially small startups.”

One of CRS’ first customers is SRTD Biotech, an emerging biotech in Germany, which is starting small scale on novel therapeutic approaches.

“Our platform technology based on seRNAs (selectively expressed RNAs) can easily be adapted to numerous therapeutic areas by utilizing the transcriptome for selective cell targeting and fusogenic LNPs for organ-specific targeting,” said Bernd Hoffmann, CEO/CSO and cofounder of SRTD. “Wacker is an ideal partner on the road to realizing our vision of delivering seRNAs to patients to improve their lives.”

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