A Proven Platform For Solid-Phase Oligonucleotide Synthesis

By Nainesh Shah, Senior Project Engineer, Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America

Oligonucleotides, short strands of genetic sequences, are a critical component of many cell and gene therapies. Advances in their manufacture have paved the way for many new drugs that possess greater stability, specificity, and efficacy, targeting faults in genetic code to address the source of disease.

The process of manufacturing an oligonucleotide hinges on repetition – each step may be repeated dozens of times to achieve the desired molecule. Employing an oligonucleotide synthesizer serves to automate this process, resulting in greater reliability and reproducibility. Currently, many oligo molecules are produced via batch process in reactors; this approach creates both time and resource constraints, requiring more solvents and process analysis at each step, and the molecule may be impacted by changing conditions inside the reactor.

Identifying an equipment supplier that can facilitate oligonucleotide synthesis with state-of-the-art equipment and process support is critical to maximizing oligo production and achieving consistency at scale. Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America (AKBA), a technology solutions provider with expertise in fluid management technology, has developed a suite of manufacturing-scale equipment designed to help developers seamlessly scale their products from research to commercial validation.