Touchlight, an innovation-driven CDMO pioneering enzymatic DNA production, has signed a license agreement with GSK, a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, that grants GSK non-exclusive rights to use Touchlight’s proprietary enzymatic dbDNA (doggybone DNA) technology for the development and production of mRNA-based products.

The license will enable GSK to access the technology for rapid and scalable GMP production of DNA, with the potential to accelerate the production of multivalent mRNA vaccines, including for use against seasonal epidemics and pandemic threats. While financial terms of the agreement are undisclosed, the deal includes an upfront payment, ongoing technology access fees, clinical and regulatory milestone payments and royalties on GSK’s mRNA products manufactured with Touchlight’s enzymatic dbDNA.

About dbDNA

Touchlight’s dbDNA technology can produce high-purity GMP DNA using an enzymatic process, offering a faster, more scalable alternative to traditional plasmid DNA production. dbDNA is particularly well suited for mRNA vaccine development, as it enables rapid and efficient production of the DNA templates required for mRNA synthesis.

In 2023 Touchlight brought its multi-kg production facility in London online. Now, it has numerous client products that have implemented dbDNA for clinical development, including three with accepted IND/CTAs. In addition to being deployed as both a critical starting material for mRNA production and within AAV products, dbDNA will enter clinical development later in 2024 as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for a therapeutic cancer vaccine, alongside multiple other anticipated INDs across various modalities.

Jonny Ohlson, Executive Chair and Founder of Touchlight, commented: “GSK is a global leader in vaccination, and we are delighted they have licensed our proprietary enzymatic dbDNA technology for the development and production of their mRNA-based products. The adoption of Touchlight’s enzymatic DNA is gathering pace and becoming an important part of the advanced therapy supply chain. Our technology delivers the speed, scalability and high-quality DNA products that are essential for the next generation of mRNA therapeutics.”