The UK is set to strengthen its position in RNA therapeutics with the launch of a new specialised manufacturing facility, supported by £29.6 million in government funding.
The UK RNA Biofoundry, located at CPI’s RNA Centre of Excellence in Darlington, will provide the infrastructure needed to accelerate the translation of RNA-based therapies from discovery into clinical development. The facility aims to address the cost and complexity of producing RNA at the clinical grade and scale required for early-stage trials.
mRNA vaccines proved pivotal during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the NHS is now testing RNA-based therapies for broader applications including oncology and cardiovascular disease.
The Darlington biofoundry will act as a high-tech hub for affordable and rapid RNA production, helping researchers and companies ramp up innovation, attract follow-on investment and scale manufacturing. It will also have the flexibility to pivot to vaccine production if needed, strengthening pandemic resilience in the country.
The initiative is a core component of the UK government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan, which was set out to streamline clinical trial setup times to under 150 days, simplify regulation and support faster NHS adoption of innovative technologies.
“This new biofoundry will accelerate the journey RNA therapies take from labs to the markets, to give our innovators the best opportunities to turn their great ideas into the lifesaving treatments for our NHS patients, and faster”, said Lord Vallance, UK Science Minister, in a press release. “It is a huge step forwards in delivering our Life Science Sector Plan, and will help us attract further backing for high-value British manufacturing that will drive growth in all parts of the country, including the North-East.”
Also commenting in the release, Stephen Kinnock, UK Health Minister, said that “this investment is exactly the kind of approach that will pull our health service into the 21st century”.
The government has already advanced major RNA partnerships, including a strategic collaboration with BioNTech to provide up to 10,000 UK patients with personalised cancer immunotherapies by 2030, and construction of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre at Harwell.
Industry leaders additionally welcomed the announcement. Frank Millar, CEO, CPI, said the investment “positions the North East as a powerhouse for innovation in manufacturing technologies that enable growth in our life sciences sector”. Jane Wall, Managing Director, UK BioIndustry Association, added that RNA technology “holds great promise for healthcare and UK economic growth,” noting the role of SMEs in driving innovation.
The UK RNA Biofoundry has also received support from Wellcome Leap and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, whose funding is accelerating the design and manufacturing advances needed to make RNA medicines accessible on a global scale.
