SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 15, 2026
Primrose Bio, Inc. has secured a $2 million Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to accelerate the development of next-generation genetic medicine drug design technologies. The 24-month federally funded project will focus on creating synthetic noncoding sequence elements capable of significantly increasing and extending protein expression in DNA- and RNA-based therapeutics. The initiative reinforces the growing importance of innovative sequence engineering in the rapidly evolving fields of gene therapy, RNA therapeutics, and precision medicine, while strengthening Primrose Bio’s portfolio of enabling technologies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners developing advanced genetic medicines.
NIH Funding Supports Next-Generation Genetic Medicine Innovation
The newly awarded $2 million NIH grant will support the project titled “Enhanced nucleic acid therapeutics: synthetic sequence elements for boosting protein expression in genetic medicines.” Led by Patrik Engström, Ph.D., Principal Scientist at Primrose Bio, the program will leverage the company’s proprietary ultra-high-throughput screening platform to evaluate billions of synthetic noncoding sequence candidates. By combining large-scale biological screening with artificial intelligence-driven sequence optimization, researchers aim to identify highly effective regulatory elements capable of improving protein production from both DNA- and RNA-based therapies. These optimized sequence elements are expected to become licensable technologies that pharmaceutical developers can incorporate into future gene therapies, mRNA therapeutics, and other nucleic acid-based medicines. The funding highlights continued federal investment in innovative technologies that address critical challenges in therapeutic protein expression and translational medicine.
AI-Driven Platform Expands Opportunities for DNA and RNA Therapeutics
Primrose Bio’s technology platform integrates ultra-high-throughput biology, advanced AI-assisted sequence design, and functional validation in cellular models to accelerate the discovery of optimized genetic regulatory elements. Unlike conventional development approaches, the company’s platform can rapidly analyze billions of sequence variations to identify candidates with the highest potential to enhance therapeutic protein expression while improving treatment durability. Building on previous research demonstrating significant gains in protein production, the latest project seeks to optimize these sequence elements for broad therapeutic application. According to company leadership, expanding its sequence engineering capabilities will provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners with advanced tools that improve the overall performance, efficiency, and manufacturability of genetic medicines, supporting the next generation of gene editing, RNA therapeutics, and precision biologics. The company’s proprietary technology also reinforces its position as an innovation partner for organizations developing complex nucleic acid-based products across human and animal health.
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Strengthening the Future of Gene Therapy and Biopharmaceutical Development
Established through the merger of Primordial Genetics and Ligand Pharmaceuticals’ Pfenex Expression Technology® platform, Primrose Bio has built an extensive portfolio supporting the development and manufacturing of complex biological products. Its proprietary technologies are already utilized by leading pharmaceutical companies in approved products and ongoing therapeutic programs spanning vaccines, protein therapeutics, nucleic acid medicines, and advanced biologics. The newly funded NIH initiative further strengthens the company’s long-term strategy of commercializing enabling technologies that accelerate drug discovery and development across the global biopharmaceutical industry. By focusing on synthetic sequence engineering, AI-powered drug design, and scalable manufacturing solutions, Primrose Bio aims to address one of the most significant challenges facing DNA- and RNA-based medicine development—achieving stronger, longer-lasting therapeutic protein expression. As investment in genetic medicine, gene therapy, and RNA innovation continues to expand worldwide, the NIH-supported project positions Primrose Bio at the forefront of next-generation biopharmaceutical research, offering new opportunities to improve therapeutic efficacy, accelerate clinical development, and support future breakthroughs in precision healthcare.
Source: Primrose Bio press release
