Arranta Bio, part of Recipharm’s biologics business, has signed a contract with MIT to develop a continuous manufacturing technology for mRNA therapeutics. The contract is part of the FDA’s initiative to have a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing production line for mRNA vaccines, which the agency is funding through a contract to MIT – one of the largest awards from the FDA’s CBER office. Enabling rapid manufacturing capacity aims to provide faster readiness and reaction to new pandemic threats.

The three-year project will accelerate the deployment of mRNA vaccines for rapid response against future pandemics as well as novel mRNA therapeutics. mRNA therapeutics are being researched in rare diseases, infectious viruses (influenza, Zika), and cancers.

The project also aims to address current challenges in the continuous manufacturing of mRNA therapeutics. Under the terms of the agreement, the FDA will directly support and inform the advances to enable Arranta Bio and MIT to advance current manufacturing and testing processes.

Marc Funk, CEO, Recipharm, said: “We are proud to be working with MIT on this ground-breaking FDA initiative to be forward thinkers and push the boundaries of biologics manufacturing. Our work can enable new vaccines and therapies to be deployed quickly and be economically viable for patients in need. This project is yet another step towards our vision to be the CDMO of choice, for the benefit of patients.”

Richard Braatz, center director at MIT, said: “This project leverages advances made at MIT in the continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing made over the last 10 plus years, as well as more recent advances in the modular manufacturing of vaccines and other biotherapeutics. MIT is pleased to collaborate with Arranta Bio and researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Pennsylvania State University to advance technologies for continuous mRNA manufacturing.”

Recipharm continues to build its presence in the biologics market, following the acquisitions of Arranta Bio, Vibalogics and GenIbet in 2022.