Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. a company involved with PCR-based DNA technologies, acquired Spindle Biotech Inc., an early-stage, private biotech company developing next-generation RNA manufacturing technologies.

The acquisition leverages the company’s LinearDNA platform that enables efficient chemical modification of DNA templates and the high binding affinity of Spindle’s high-performance RNA polymerase (RNAP) for chemically modified DNA templates. The goal is to deliver multiple advantages over conventional plasmid DNA-based mRNA production, including: the prevention or reduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) contamination resulting in higher target mRNA yields; delivery of IVT templates in as little as 14 days for milligram scale and 30 days for gram scale; and reduced mRNA manufacturing complexities.

In addition, the acquisition combines linearDNA IVT templates and Spindle’s RNA polymerase into an integrated offering branded as the LineaIVT platform, which aims to expand access to the mRNA value chain severalfold to what it estimates is over 20% of mRNA manufacturing costs of goods.

James Hayward, President, and CEO of Applied DNA, said, “Having first partnered with Spindle in 2022, we deeply appreciate the complementary nature of its RNAP to our linearDNA IVT templates and the combined technologies’ ability to substantially reduce or eliminate dsRNA contamination without sacrificing production yields. “With this acquisition, we have moved into a unique leadership position based on our combined offering, which we believe is the only platform to leverage the unique attributes of enzymatically produced IVT templates to empower a proprietary RNA polymerase. With the simultaneous launch of our LineaIVT platform early access program, we plan to engage mRNA stakeholders across the entirety of the value chain.”