Chemoenzymatic Ligation: A New Frontier in siRNA Manufacturing

The current oligo manufacturing paradigm relies on solid-phase synthesis, a process heavily reliant on organic solvents/raw materials. However, siRNA manufacturers—both biotechs and CDMOs—are in the process of starting a slow but important manufacturing transition away from solid phase synthesis toward enzymatic production, starting with enzymatic ligation for siRNA products. This will be a closer look at the current state of affairs for enzymatic ligation—where advancements have been made, as well as where the pain points are in building this into current processes.