Precision NanoSystems (PNI) and Replicate Bioscience will enter a licensing agreement to accelerate the creation, scale-up, and delivery of self-replicating RNA (srRNA) therapies.
 
PNI is a provider of technologies, services, and solutions for the development of lipid nanoparticle genomic medicines and Replicate Bioscience pioneers ways to prevent drug resistance in cancer and to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and other diseases using self-replicating RNA (srRNA). PNI will provide lipid nanoparticle solutions for scale-up and manufacture of up to 15 Replicate srRNA therapeutics. The terms include aggregated milestone fees, royalties, and sublicensing income sharing.
 
Andy Geall, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Development Officer of Replicate, said, “I’m confident in PNI’s delivery technology and our working relationship. With this agreement, Replicate aims to significantly expand our portfolio of srRNA therapeutics beyond our lead candidates slated to enter human trials next year.”
 
James Taylor, Ph.D., founder and General Manager of PNI, says: “This work with Replicate Bioscience exemplifies one of PNI’s core competitive advantages—the full lipid nanoparticle solution, including our proprietary lipid library—to enable, de-risk, and accelerate drug program development.”
 
PNI’s solutions include its ionizable lipids and compositions, supported by a scalable microfluidic manufacturing platform. Along with PNI’s technical support, manufacturing systems, and CDMO services, the full suite enables biopharmaceutical companies like Replicate to move investigational products more quickly and efficiently through their development.
 
Replicate’s srRNA vectors are designed to offer significant advantages over the use of first-generation vectors. Maximizing vector performance through optimization of the delivery system enables targeting of new diseases. Accessing PNI’s library allows Replicate to explore diverse chemical spaces to develop novel drug candidates in areas beyond the company’s lead programs, which address endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancers, immunotherapy resistance in solid tumors, and future pandemic readiness.