ST Pharm Proves Its RNA Therapeutics Manufacturing Competitiveness with a KRW 91.3 Billion Oligonucleotide Contract Win

[Financial News] As RNA therapeutics gain prominence, drug developers are turning their attention to Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) with reliable production capabilities. Dozens of RNA therapeutics have entered late-stage clinical trials, while products already on the market continue to undergo additional trials to expand their indications. As a result, the importance of production scale and quality-control capabilities is growing.
 According to industry sources on the 29th, oligonucleotide therapeutics are particularly dependent on manufacturing processes because, unlike conventional small-molecule drugs, impurities generated during synthesis and quality attributes are closely linked to the production process. The ability to consistently produce the same quality from the clinical stage through commercialization is therefore considered a key competitive advantage.
 ST Pharm recently signed a KRW 91.3 billion contract to supply oligonucleotide therapeutics, demonstrating its competitiveness in the global market. As the contract exceeds KRW 90 billion, industry observers have suggested that it may involve commercial-scale supply.
 ST Pharm's extensive commercialization experience is cited as a key reason it has been able to expand its contract wins in global markets. CDMO competitiveness depends not simply on facility size, but on the ability to repeatedly manufacture products of consistent quality on a large scale. As RNA therapeutics expand beyond rare diseases into conditions affecting large patient populations, such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, securing both production volume and quality is becoming increasingly important.
 Developing technologies to support larger production volumes is another challenge. The solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis method widely used today links the desired sequence one base at a time. As the synthesis chain grows longer and production volumes increase, the process can place greater pressure on yield, purification and equipment efficiency. There are also calls for the industry to prepare for future demand that could require production beyond hundreds of kilograms and eventually on a ton-scale basis as treatments for chronic diseases expand.
 Against this backdrop, the industry is showing growing interest in next-generation production technologies, including liquid-phase synthesis and methods that produce shortmers, or short oligonucleotide fragments, and then connect them through ligation. These technologies are designed to improve mass-production efficiency by first producing shorter oligonucleotides and then linking them to create longer ones.
 ST Pharm is also working to secure next-generation production technologies in addition to its existing oligonucleotide synthesis capabilities, positioning itself to meet demand for large-scale manufacturing.
 A ST Pharm representative said, "Based on our experience commercializing oligonucleotides, expanding production capacity and broadening our capabilities to include next-generation nucleic acid production and delivery technologies will be important competitive factors in the global RNA therapeutics market. ST Pharm will also continue to invest and strengthen its management efforts to build competitiveness in global markets."
[email protected] Jung Sang-hee Reporter