The potential of mRNA medicines was postulated for years, but it took the COVID pandemic and emergency use authorizations for that potential to be demonstrated. By now, most of us have received at least one mRNA based vaccine and the platform has been mostly derisked. However, if you’re not one of the major players in this space, generating high-purity mRNA, let alone a GMP-grade mRNA-based drug product, can still be quite challenging. 

Dr. Chrisitan Cobaugh, CEO of Vernal Biosciences in Vermont, has been working in the mRNA field for more than a decade and is passionate about the potential of mRNA medicines. He’s also been in the field long enough to know firsthand the challenges of high-purity mRNA and lipid nanoparticle supply. Join us as Christian walks us through his story, the start of Vernal Biosciences, and their progress toward their mission of democratizing access to mRNA technology. Our conversation touches on the molecular biology of making mRNA, and the use of digital PCR and other methods in monitoring development and release of mRNA drug products, and the potential applications of mRNA as a platform (some of which you might not have guessed).

Whether you’re new to the technology, or have chosen mRNA as a focus area, you’re sure to find this conversation engaging and intriguing, and our guest insightful. 

Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to learn more about the guests, the hosts, and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System.