Genetic Booster for mRNA Vaccines
Overview
mRNA drugs have growing potential as therapeutics, due to their numerous applications in gene therapy, regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and infectious disease prevention (e.g. Ebola, COVID)
Commercialisation opportunities
Non-exclusive licensing
Problem addressed
As mRNAs naturally degrades in the biological system, high-dose or repeated administration is commonly required. Our technology pioneered the engineering of artificial poly(A) tail sequences, via insertion of non-A nucleotides into the sequence, that can prolong mRNA half-life to effectively enhance protein expression rate and duration, with the effect being independent to transfection reagent, cell type, encoded protein, mRNA length.
Innovation
- mRNA therapeutics
- Research tool for protein expression
Key impact
- Multiple enhancement of protein expression
- No additional chemical is needed (e.g. adjuvant for conventional vaccines)
- Improve stability & efficacy of mRNA vaccine
Application
- mRNA therapeutics
- Research tool for protein expression
Patent
- US Patent Application: US63/103,492 PCT Patent Application No.: PCT/CN2021/111092
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were ranked 3rd in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2022, and our graduates were ranked 23rd worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2021.
Enquiry
