CAMBRIDGE, UK — September 28, 2026
4basebio PLC announced a collaboration with TriLink BioTechnologies, part of Maravai LifeSciences, to support a multinational pharmaceutical company’s Phase I cell therapy program. Under the agreement, 4basebio will supply clinical-grade opDNA® enzymatically produced DNA as a critical starting material for an upcoming clinical trial, while TriLink will manufacture the program’s mRNA drug substance using its CleanCap® co-transcriptional capping technology. The collaboration extends an existing relationship between 4basebio and the pharmaceutical customer into cell therapy development and creates an end-to-end supply chain connecting synthetic DNA starting material with GMP mRNA manufacturing. Financial terms were not disclosed. The companies said the integrated approach is intended to provide consistent, high-quality materials while supporting the transition of the cell therapy program toward clinical development.
4basebio Supplies GMP opDNA Starting Material
4basebio’s opDNA® platform is designed to provide an enzymatically produced alternative to conventional plasmid DNA starting materials used in genetic medicine manufacturing. Under the collaboration, the company will supply clinical-grade synthetic DNA for the pharmaceutical customer’s Phase I program. Enzymatic DNA production is intended to support applications requiring high-purity and scalable DNA materials for next-generation therapeutics. 4basebio develops DNA constructs for applications including gene therapy, genome editing, mRNA manufacturing and DNA vaccines. The company said its collaboration with TriLink demonstrates how its opDNA technology can be integrated into established manufacturing workflows rather than requiring customers to change their existing CDMO relationships. The companies did not disclose the identity of the pharmaceutical customer or financial terms associated with the agreement.
TriLink Applies CleanCap Technology to mRNA Manufacturing
TriLink BioTechnologies has been selected as the contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for the mRNA drug substance, applying its proprietary CleanCap® co-transcriptional capping technology to the program. TriLink, a Maravai LifeSciences company, provides nucleic acid manufacturing and technologies for applications including RNA therapeutics, vaccines, gene editing and diagnostics. Its manufacturing role in the collaboration will connect 4basebio’s synthetic DNA starting material with established mRNA production processes. According to the companies, combining high-purity opDNA with CleanCap-enabled manufacturing is intended to provide consistency from the DNA template through finished drug substance. The collaboration illustrates the role of integrated DNA and mRNA supply chains in supporting emerging cell and gene therapy programs as they move from development into human clinical testing.
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Partnership Expands Genetic Medicine Manufacturing Capabilities
The collaboration extends 4basebio’s relationship with a leading pharmaceutical innovator while broadening the application of its synthetic DNA platform in cell therapy. The company is positioning opDNA as a potential replacement for plasmid DNA in the development and manufacture of genetic medicines, with an emphasis on speed, purity and scalability. TriLink brings established GMP manufacturing capabilities and proprietary nucleic acid technologies to the partnership, while Maravai LifeSciences provides a broader portfolio of products and services supporting biopharmaceutical, vaccine, diagnostic and cell and gene therapy development. The immediate program is preparing for a Phase I clinical trial, meaning the collaboration is currently focused on manufacturing and clinical supply rather than demonstrating therapeutic efficacy. Together, the companies aim to support the pharmaceutical customer’s progression toward first-in-human development through a coordinated DNA-to-mRNA manufacturing workflow.
Source 4basebio press release
