Celltrion has set about to develop a next-generation mRNA vaccine platform by signing an agreement with TriLink BioTechnologies (TriLink) of the United States.

TriLink is an mRNA platform-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) located in San Diego, Calif. The company has its vector and CleanCap technology to develop mRNA vaccines. TriLink can also provide technology transfer with materials used during clinical trials. 

Based on its antigen sequencing verification and CleanCap technology, TriLink will produce and provide Celltrion with materials needed for phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. In addition, TriLink will provide a mold vector capable of GMP-scale production and mRNA processing technology.

Celltrion will make the most of these techniques and materials to develop vaccines for the Covid-19 virus and its various variants. The company will also speed up developing the mRNA platform using its patented technologies.

Instead of developing and commercializing a vaccine using the current wild-type Covid virus antigen, Celltrion focuses on developing an mRNA vaccine using antigens of various Covid-19 variants.

Furthermore, it will try to secure original technology by developing vectors that avoid patents, researching nucleic acids, and improving capping. By constructing an mRNA processing facility, it will independently manufacture materials for large-scale phase 3 clinical trials. Finally, Celltrion plans to expand its technological domain beyond the Covid-19 virus to anticancer and other diseases through internalizing mRNA platform development.

“By cooperating with TriLink that possesses core technologies of mRNA vaccine, we will develop next-generation mRNA vaccine platform applicable to the current and future viruses,” a company official said. “Through this collaboration, Celltrion will secure its independent mRNA platform technology. In addition, we will go all out to develop and expand the portfolio of new drugs using them.”

Meanwhile, Celltrion is strengthening its platform to cope with Covid-19 variants by continuing cell neutralization and animal experiment trials for its Covid-19 antibody treatment, Regkirona (CT-P59). Besides, the company is speeding up upgrading the formulations of Regkirona in cooperation with the U.S. bio firm Inhalon Biopharma, which has patents and technologies related to inhalation antibody treatment development, increasing options for Covid-19 treatment.