China-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Aurisco Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd has revealed plans to establish its first commercial-scale production plant for oligonucleotides in partnership with US-based life sciences service provider Cytiva. The new plant, located in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, will utilize Cytiva’s Oligo FlexFactory platform and marks the first of three planned commercial manufacturing lines at the site. Once operational, Aurisco expects to produce 200kg of oligonucleotides annually.
Oligonucleotide Market and Therapeutic Potential
Oligonucleotides are synthetic strands of DNA or RNA that can be used as therapies and diagnostics by binding to a target gene or protein sequence. These therapeutics include small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and can be applied in treating cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions. Aurisco forecasts that the global oligonucleotide synthesis market will be worth USD 16.7 billion by 2027, highlighting the significant growth potential in this area.
Cytiva’s FlexFactory Platform
Cytiva’s FlexFactory platform offers single-use, cohesive biomanufacturing capabilities tailored to individual client needs. Designed to accelerate manufacturing speed and efficiency while minimizing costs, the platform will be integral to Aurisco’s new plant. In addition to the GMP FlexFactory platform, Cytiva will provide technical and service support, including human resource training, site process design, and life-cycle project management.
Previous Collaborations and Future Outlook
Aurisco and Cytiva have a history of collaboration, previously partnering to provide oligonucleotide contract research organization (CRO) and CDMO services of laboratory and pilot scales in Shanghai. Cytiva has also worked with China’s Grand Biol (Anhui) Co., Ltd to set up an oligonucleotide production plant in Anhui, announced in February 2022. The new plant in Yangzhou represents a significant expansion of Aurisco’s capabilities and underscores its commitment to advancing oligonucleotide therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
