Enhancing mRNA and CRISPR Innovation
Maravai LifeSciences, Inc., a global leader in life science reagents and services, has completed its acquisition of Officinae Bio’s DNA and RNA business. This strategic move integrates Officinae Bio’s advanced AI-driven mRNA sequence optimization technology with Maravai and its subsidiary, TriLink BioTechnologies, enhancing capabilities in drug substance manufacturing. The acquisition enables a seamless transition from mRNA sequence optimization to clinical testing and commercial manufacturing.
Official Bio, based in Venice, Italy, has developed a proprietary digital platform designed to accelerate the prototyping of mRNA drug candidates. This technology allows for rapid testing of various capping analogs, chemical modifications, and sequence designs, helping customers advance their discovery programs efficiently. With this addition, Maravai aims to leverage Officinae Bio’s expertise to optimize nucleic acid therapy development and provide more streamlined solutions for biopharmaceutical innovators.
Expanding Market Presence in Europe
Trey Martin, CEO of Maravai LifeSciences, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, emphasizing its role in expanding Maravai’s presence in the European market. According to Martin, incorporating Officinae Bio into the Maravai family strengthens their capabilities in AI-driven sequence design and e-commerce while accelerating advancements in mRNA and CRISPR-based therapies. The acquisition also marks Maravai’s first manufacturing footprint in Europe, which is expected to drive growth across multiple product lines in the post-pandemic era.
Davide De Lucrezia, CEO and co-founder of Officinae Bio highlighted the advantages of the partnership, stating that combining forces with Maravai and TriLink BioTechnologies will enhance AI-driven tools for nucleic acid research. The collaboration aims to reduce errors in candidate sequence development and improve efficiency in drug discovery. De Lucrezia will continue to lead Officinae Bio, now operating as part of Maravai’s Nucleic Acid Production segment.
Advancing Biotechnology with Cutting-Edge Platforms
Maravai LifeSciences specializes in providing essential products for drug therapy development, diagnostics, and vaccine research. Its subsidiary, TriLink BioTechnologies, is renowned for its expertise in nucleic acid synthesis and mRNA solutions, including its proprietary CleanCap® mRNA capping technology.
Official Bio contributes two groundbreaking platforms to the Maravai portfolio:
- Vulcanus DNA Synthesis Platform: This system generates high-precision DNA libraries, enabling targeted sequence exploration with enhanced control over variant representation, accelerating lead discovery.
- Mercury RNA Platform: Focused on optimizing efficacy and safety, this platform designs libraries of precisely engineered untranslated regions (UTRs), enhancing translational efficiency and tissue-specificity.
Through this acquisition, Maravai is set to expand its innovation capabilities, offering more comprehensive solutions for gene-modified cell therapy, gene therapy, and RNA therapeutics. This strategic investment underscores the company’s commitment to driving the future of biotechnology by integrating AI-driven approaches with cutting-edge molecular research.
