Next-gen mRNA gets a durability upgrade. ScionxBio has inked a global collaboration with Sanofi to develop long-acting "xRNA" therapeutics using its AI-powered TERA platform. The technology engineers mRNA molecules with enhanced stability and resistance to degradation, enabling sustained protein expression — a potential game-changer for chronic and inherited conditions.
Next-gen mRNA gets a durability upgrade
ScionxBio, a preclinical biotech formerly operating under Eleven Therapeutics, has announced a worldwide strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanofi to develop long-acting mRNA therapeutics — dubbed "xRNA." At the heart of the deal is ScionxBio's proprietary TERA platform, an AI-driven system that uses deep learning to engineer mRNA molecules with chemically synthesized regulatory elements, giving them greater stability and resistance to enzymatic breakdown compared to conventional mRNA.
Under the agreement, ScionxBio will lead optimization efforts through in vivo validation, after which Sanofi takes the reins for all remaining preclinical work, IND-enabling studies, clinical development, manufacturing, and global commercialization. The specific disease areas remain undisclosed, but the focus is on conditions where sustained protein expression is critical — think inherited protein deficiencies, cardiometabolic disorders, and immune-related conditions.
Key Takeaways
Why it matters: One of mRNA therapy's biggest limitations has been its short shelf life inside the body. If TERA-powered xRNA can deliver durable protein expression, it could unlock mRNA's potential for chronic diseases — expanding well beyond the vaccine applications that put the technology on the map.
