RNAi research blooms with yeast-based production

By Maggie Lynch

- Last updated on GMT

RNAi research blooms with yeast-based production

Related tags Rna RNAi Rna interference Collaboration Yeast Research and development Biotherapeutics

Renaissance BioScience enters a partnership with Mitacs to test its yeast-based, RNAi production platform for biocontrol and biotherapeutics applications.

The University of British Columbia, Mitacs, and the University of Manitoba will join Renaissance BioScience Corporation (RBSC) in a three-year $975,000 CDN ($741,750), multi-investigator research and development project.

Mitacs will provide matching funding for the RBSC project to extend its research and development of an engineered, yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) production and delivery platform across insect and animal models.

The tests performed and funded in this partnership will confirm the proof-of-concept utility for the yeast-based system. This system may then be able to augment industrial chemical pesticides of an animal and human biotherapeutics production and delivery platforms.

Mitacs CEO and scientific director Alejandro Adem said that yeast-based RNAi therapeutics is an emerging area of research and Canada has the opportunity to become a world leader in it.

Matthew Dahabieh, CSO of RBSC, said in a statement, “There is a significant potential global market, for these environmentally friendly, RNAi-based technologies, especially in the crop protection and animal agricultural sectors.”

He further stated, “Up until now, the efficient and cost-effective delivery of RNAi in the field has always been a barrier to adoption. Yeast, however, as a stable, non-toxic and well-understood industrial organism, is an excellent platform to deliver on the promise of RNAi as a biocontrol and medical biotherapeutics agent.”​ 

RNAi: An emerging area itself

In August 2018, Alnylam’s Onpattro (patisiran) was the first RNAi therapeutic treatment to be approved​ by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

RNAi itself is still being researched and is an emerging area for therapeutic development. Research has shown that it can be applied to treatments for viral infections, cancers, and neurological diseases based on its programmed target.

Related news

Show more

Related product

Process optimization for mAb commercial manufacturing

Process optimization for mAb commercial manufacturing

Content provided by Catalent | 01-Jun-2023 | Product Presentation

Process characterization and validation is an important step in the product development journey and late-phase development, and it is required before transferring...