Foundational synthesis technology enables scalable modified 100-400nt RNA constructs, speeding design cycles and improving genome-editing precision
Cirena has secured a license to the University of Colorado Boulder’s patented RNA synthesis technology, giving researchers scalable access to high purity 100-400nt RNA constructs for next-generation therapeutics. The agreement brings to market an approach developed at CU Boulder enabling reliable synthesis of long RNA needed to support rapidly developing applications in CRISPR, functional genomics, and emerging RNA-therapeutic modalities.
This licensed thionocarbonate-based technology gives Cirena a significantly higher-yield route not achievable using previous phosphoramidite methods for RNA synthesis, enabling routine production of highly modified, long and ultra-long RNA constructs.
“The underlying patent estate represents years of excellent foundational work at CU Boulder. By commercializing through Cirena, researchers worldwide will finally have dependable access to long and ultra-long RNA constructs that have historically been difficult or impossible to obtain at scale,” said Bryn Rees (CU Boulder Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Partnerships).
“Demand for long and ultra-long RNA has grown rapidly as CRISPR, lncRNA and RNA-therapeutic programs advance, and this technology finally makes those constructs reliably accessible at scale,” said Doug Dellinger (Cirena CEO). “This agreement with the University of Colorado expands our ability to provide high‑purity long RNA to the global research community while maintaining rapid turnaround times.”
This licensing agreement represents a significant advance for researchers developing next generation RNA therapeutics, as it provides industry access to a scalable platform for producing long, high purity RNA that was previously unattainable with conventional synthesis technologies.
About Cirena
Cirena provides long and ultra-long, high purity RNA for researchers in therapeutics, gene editing, and functional genomics. The company’s proprietary technology -developed at the University of Colorado Boulder by the teams of Prof. Marvin Caruthers (co-founder: Amgen, Applied Bioscience) and Dr. Douglas Dellinger (CU Boulder, Agilent) - enables rapid turnaround of 100+ nt RNA with exceptional purity. Cirena is headquartered at the BioFrontiers Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder. Cirena RNA products are intended for research use only.