Primrose Bio has launched Prima RNApols ExTend Cap AU, an RNA polymerase engineered to significantly improve manufacturing of self-amplifying mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.

ExTend Cap AU enables high-yield, fully capped self-amplifying mRNA with less capping reagent, template DNA and RNA polymerase. Built specifically for AU cap analogs, dsRNA reduction combined with lower reagent needs delivers higher quality, more cost-effective mRNA.

Prima RNApols ExTend Cap AU offers several key advantages in self-amplifying mRNA manufacturing. It delivers high AU capping efficiency, achieving optimal results with reduced cap usage, lowering reagent requirements. The enzyme minimises unwanted double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) byproducts, thereby reducing downstream purification needs. Additionally, it enables higher yields of self-amplifying RNA while maintaining integrity and fidelity compared to conventional T7 polymerases. Together, these features contribute to more cost-efficient manufacturing by requiring less template, enzyme, and cap analog, resulting in significant overall savings.

"Although saRNA products have already achieved regulatory approval in Japan and Europe, developers need improved tools to produce long template mRNA with higher fidelity and purity, while reducing reagent and downstream purification costs. Primrose's enzyme evolution toolkit enables this new solution, so our customers can develop better saRNA products with more efficient manufacturing to address infectious disease, oncology, and other disease states,” said Drew Burch, CEO, Primrose.

Prima RNApols ExTend Cap AU is available for research use applications. GMP-grade Prima RNApols manufactured and released under ISO 13485:2016 certified quality systems are available for clinical and commercial mRNA manufacturing.