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High quality mRNA for therapeutic application
Founded in 2022 and based in San Diego, California, Cisterna Biologics is a technology company. It aims to solve some of the challenges currently facing the biotech industry to develop mRNA-based therapeutics – quality, quantity, longevity and cost of mRNA. As mRNA technology matures, it becomes imperative that these issues are solved so we can fully explore mRNA's endless possibilities as a therapeutic. Cisterna uses proprietary technologies to either remove a contaminant at its source or replace the source itself. For example, to remove double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), we use ribozymes - molecular scissors - to precisely cut the mRNA at its 3’ end. This assures not only 3’ homogeneity, but also eliminates dsRNA, which are primarily produced due to self-templated additions at the 3’ end. Utilizing a PCR-like system to amplify the DNA template in large quantities eliminates the requirement for plasmid enrichment in bacteria, the prime source of endotoxin contamination. These are just a few examples of Cisterna’s powerful technologies being used to achieve our goal of 10x higher quality mRNA for therapeutic application.
Cisterna Biologics offers custom RNA synthesis with high-purity mRNA products for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. They emphasize RNA purity, rapid delivery, and innovative purification technologies to reduce impurities that can affect downstream applications.
Cisterna provides custom RNA synthesis and off-the-shelf RNA options, focusing on high-purity RNA produced using advanced chemistry and biochemistry. Their proprietary SPECC technology aims to eliminate product-related impurities (e.g., dsRNA, LRNA, stRNA) to improve structure-function studies and downstream applications. The site highlights HCPL-purified RNA benefits and applications across diagnostics, immunology, and clinical contexts, with a mission to reduce cost and delivery lead times while maintaining quality.
Who it’s for: Researchers and developers in biotechnology, molecular biology, diagnostics, immunology, and therapeutics needing high-purity RNA for experiments, assays, and potential therapeutic development.
mentions of advanced technology and mission, but no explicit hiring, funding rounds, or traction details
Hari Bhaskaran's journey with RNAs started with ribozymes (catalytic RNAs) almost 20 years ago in the labs of Rick Russell at UT Austin. His PhD work was focused on mechanistic understanding of RNA folding, culminating in a seminal publication in Nature (see Bhaskaran and Russell, 2007). Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibilities in both academia and industry. He is the author of several publications and industry patents.
Cisterna uses proprietary technologies to build the next generation of mRNA, free of impurities, at a fraction of the price.
Cisterna Biologics develops mRNA therapeutics by removing contaminants such as dsRNA or replacing contamination sources, aiming for higher quality mRNA at lower cost. The launch describes proprietary technologies to improve mRNA purity and yield for therapeutic applications and invites interest from potential collaborators.
From the original launch (Jun 2022) — may be outdated.
Genetic Medicine with Small Molecules
Unlocking the next generation of mRNA medicines
