Pfizer and another pharmaceutical major, Touchlight, have come to a deal on a significant non-exclusive patent licence. Touchlight is a firm that focuses on enzymatic DNA manufacturing to further enhance genetic therapies.
As a result of the licencing arrangement, Pfizer will now have the rights to Touchlight’s portfolio of enzymatic doggybone DNA (dbDNA) patents for international use. The company plans to use the product largely in the production and commercialization of their messenger RNA-based vaccines, and this will be its primary focus. On the other hand, it will also be utilised in the expansive variety of medicines and gene therapies that it offers. The pharma giant will make an initial payment to Touchlight as well as compensation for completing certain clinical and commercial milestones and royalties once the company’s product has been brought to market.
A minimum, linear, double-stranded, and structurally closed DNA vector is produced by the patented dbDNA technology developed by Touchlight. This vector is produced by an enzymatic manufacturing method. dbDNA is in a position that is unmatched by any other company to facilitate the speedy, synthetic, and scalable production of guanosine monophosphate (GMP) DNA while maintaining a compact and straightforward footprint.
Additionally, the method is able to produce genes and accommodate sequences that are normally unstable when present as plasmid DNA in E. coli. Examples of such sequences include those that are included in viral vector and mRNA production. It is perfectly suited for the creation of DNA vaccines as well as sophisticated therapeutics, besides mRNA vaccines.
Touchlight was founded by Jonny Ohlson, who now serves as the company’s executive chair. He stated that they are happy to strike this arrangement with Pfizer to licence their mRNA production platform. This collaboration is an example of how their technology has the potential to help enterprises throughout the genetic medicine industry to streamline and expedite the manufacture of DNA through the clinic towards commercialization.
