Waterfall Scientific has received a substantial grant of up to $54.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This funding will support a consortium of six companies focused on developing a cutting-edge continuous-flow platform aimed at the manufacturing and characterization of mRNA medicines.
Project Overview: ESCALATOR
The initiative, known as ESCALATOR, is part of ARPA-H’s Genetic Medicines and Individualized Manufacturing for Everyone (GIVE) program. Waterfall Scientific will take the lead as the prime contractor, collaborating with key partners Ansa Biotechnologies, Volta Labs, Polymorphic Biosciences, Tensentric, and Ginkgo Bioworks.
Goals of the Consortium
The consortium’s primary objective is to create an end-to-end continuous-flow manufacturing platform that can swiftly produce and characterize high-purity mRNA therapeutics and vaccines on demand. This innovative platform will integrate several advanced technologies, including microfluidic DNA synthesis, RNA transcription, purification, formulation, and automated drug characterization.
Addressing Manufacturing Challenges
Traditional batch-based mRNA manufacturing often encounters significant limitations, such as production bottlenecks, high costs, and scalability issues. By shifting to a continuous-flow model, this project aims to streamline the manufacturing process, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
Contributions from Consortium Members
Each partner brings unique expertise to the table. Ansa Biotechnologies will supply enzymatic DNA synthesis technology, while Volta Labs is responsible for automated fluid handling and sample preparation. Polymorphic Biosciences will focus on lipid nanoparticle formulation, and Tensentric will offer custom hardware design along with support for system integration and prototyping. Ginkgo Bioworks will contribute its strengths in system integration and computational optimization.
Expected Impact of the New Platform
The new manufacturing architecture aims to minimize production footprints and lower unit costs, cutting lead times for mRNA therapeutics from weeks to just days. This advancement holds great promise for various applications, including pandemic preparedness, personalized oncology, treatments for rare diseases, and global health initiatives.
Waterfall Scientific’s Background
Founded in Massachusetts, Waterfall Scientific emerged from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, leveraging technology from co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Craig T. Martin, Ph.D. The company’s DuoTether continuous-flow system is designed to enhance both the purity and efficiency of mRNA synthesis.
Vision for the Future
“Leading this landmark ARPA-H initiative alongside such exceptional consortium partners marks a pivotal milestone for Waterfall Scientific as we advance our innovative technology. This award strongly endorses our continuous-flow paradigm. By uniting best-in-class capabilities across enzymatic DNA synthesis, formulation, microfluidics, automated hardware, and high-throughput analytics, we are establishing a scalable platform that will redefine how nucleic acid therapies are manufactured globally,” stated Inna Shcherbakova, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Waterfall Scientific.
Melissa J. Moore, Ph.D., Co-Founder of Waterfall Scientific, added, “This investment provides a truly exciting opportunity to move our promising technologies from concept to meaningful impact. We look forward to working with ARPA-H and our collaborators to deliver results for patients, providers, and communities.”
Conclusion
Waterfall Scientific’s significant funding from ARPA-H represents a transformative step forward in mRNA therapeutics manufacturing. By harnessing collaborative expertise and innovative technology, the consortium is poised to redefine the industry landscape, potentially improving health outcomes on a global scale.
- Key Takeaways:
- Waterfall Scientific leads a consortium to develop a continuous-flow mRNA manufacturing platform.
- The project aims to enhance efficiency and reduce production costs significantly.
- Collaboration with industry leaders ensures a comprehensive approach to overcoming current manufacturing challenges.
Read more → pulse2.com