Cytiva’s role in shaping the future of oligonucleotide manufacturing
Oligonucleotides—short strands of synthetic DNA or RNA—are gaining momentum as powerful tools in the treatment of genetic diseases, rare disorders, and cancers. Our recent report, A New Frontier in Precision Medicine, explores the therapeutic promise of these molecules and the urgent need for scalable, reliable manufacturing to support their development. This case study from Cytiva offers a glimpse into the possibilities of the field.
Supporting oligonucleotide development and manufacturing
Cytiva brings expertise in chromatography systems to the table. One function their offer is their UNICORN software—a universal control platform that supports users throughout the oligonucleotide manufacturing workflow. This tool streamlines method programming and development, enabling fast implementation of ready-to-run methods across unit operations. Key features include an intuitive process interface and built-in optimisation tools. Beyond technology, Cytiva offers robust customer support, expert advice for each unit operation, and access to a global network of service professionals.
Meeting the demands of large-scale production
Cytiva addresses the complexities of large-scale oligonucleotide production by encouraging early consideration of the full manufacturing workflow. By evaluating how each decision in development affects downstream processes, manufacturers can improve scalability, quality, and cost-efficiency. They emphasise making deliberate choices for each unit operation early on, which often pays dividends at scale. Their “one-piece workflow” approach ensures materials move efficiently through production, reducing both risk and tied-up capital. Facility design is another area of focus, including planning for solvent and reagent supply, buffer prep, waste handling, and ensuring areas are certified for explosive materials used in synthesis.
Accelerating therapeutic development
Cytiva’s automated synthesizers, paired with UNICORN software, enable the development of standardised, transferable methods—making it easier to move from research to clinical and commercial manufacturing. This reduces time and resource demands while maintaining high product quality during scale-up.
Collaborating with industry and academia
Cytiva places a strong emphasis on collaboration, treating customers as partners in innovation. They actively integrate user feedback into product development to ensure their technologies evolve with industry needs. Since cofounding the Oligo Networking Event in 2011, Cytiva has continued to organise and contribute to this annual gathering, which now brings together pharma and academic leaders across Europe. These efforts support the shared goal of advancing new, innovative manufacturing technologies for the oligonucleotide space.
Looking ahead: future plans and innovation focus
Cytiva remains committed to driving advancements in synthesis technologies. They are actively exploring emerging approaches and staying attuned to the drivers of change in the field. Their goal is to offer a broad set of tailored tools that support customers in getting therapies to market faster.
