UK-based biotech ScionxBio has secured a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanofi to develop long-acting mRNA therapeutics.
The partnership will combine Sanofi’s mRNA candidates with ScionxBio’s proprietary TERA platform, which is designed to extend the duration of therapeutic protein production.
TERA uses AI-driven molecular design to identify RNA sequences with improved stability.
The platform incorporates specially designed, chemically synthesised regulatory elements that ScionxBio says can increase resistance to enzymatic degradation compared with conventional mRNA.
The pair aims to enable cells to sustain therapeutic protein production for longer, potentially extending the effects of RNA-based medicines.
Why this matters
One of the current challenges with mRNA therapeutics is getting cells to produce enough of a therapeutic protein for long enough to achieve a meaningful clinical benefit.
Extending the duration of protein expression could potentially improve treatment durability and reduce the need for repeated administration, depending on the medicine and its intended use.
The pair did not disclose the disease areas covered by the collaboration, but said that they would work to address "conditions where sustained protein expression is essential for robust and competitive clinical effects."
Under the agreement, ScionxBio will optimise the molecules and take them through in vivo validation. Sanofi will then take responsibility for the remaining preclinical work, preparation for clinical trials, clinical development, manufacturing and worldwide commercialisation.
The platform is intended to support applications beyond protein replacement, including the sustained delivery of cardiometabolic and immune-modulating molecules.
ScionxBio said these applications could potentially support the development of disease-modifying and preventive therapies for chronic conditions
Dr Adi Gilboa-Geffen, CEO of ScionxBio, commented: “This collaboration with Sanofi is a defining milestone for our company. It validates the revolutionary potential of our AI-driven TERA platform to overcome the historical limitations of mRNA durability."
Partnering with a global powerhouse like Sanofi ensures that our innovations in therapeutic RNA reach patients with life-altering protein deficiencies and chronic conditions more rapidly than ever before.
Dr Yaniv Erlich, Chair of the Board and co-founder of ScionxBio, added: “Collaborating with a world leader like Sanofi is a testament to the scientific rigour and broad applicability of our transformative technology."
This partnership accelerates the translation of our platform from the lab to the bedside as we mature our pipeline to serve patients in need across the globe.
The announcement did not disclose financial terms.
