Nucleic acid
We support the development of your nucleic acid-based drug product with science-driven solutions
Nucleic acid drugs are a very promising novel therapeutic modality with the potential to address many challenging medical needs including cancer, genetic defects, and viral infections. From a molecular perspective, they are somewhere between a small molecule and a biological compound. Their size ranges from a few base pairs (oligonucleotides) to several hundred base pairs (nucleic acid macromolecules). Several nucleic acid-based drug products have gained market approval, including the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Nucleic acids can achieve long-lasting or even curative effects via gene expression, inhibition, addition, replacement or editing. They are highly specific, functionally diverse and have overall a low toxicity. Some nucleic acid-based products contain a conjugated or chemically modified nucleic acid to increase cellular uptake and chemical stability during storage and administration. But most nucleic acids require a viral or non-viral vector for a targeted and efficient delivery. Learn more about our services related to viral vectors on this page.
Improving the stability of nucleic acids
All nucleic acids, whether delivered with or without a vector, are susceptible to various types of degradation. Oxidation or other chemical modifications as well as conformational changes upon mechanical stress can impair the effectivity of the drug product. Especially large nucleic acid macromolecules encounter stability issues in aqueous solutions.
Coriolis offers many science-driven services to assess and improve the stability and cellular uptake of nucleic acid-based drug products. Our expert scientists develop liquid and lyophilized formulations for naked, viral, or non-viral delivery. They also develop and employ sensitive and orthogonal analytical techniques for product characterization. We support your drug development from early pre-clinical research until and beyond market approval with tailored solutions and scientific excellence.
