Agilent Technologies has entered a two-year research collaboration with Singapore’s Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi), hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to advance research into complex oligonucleotide candidates. This collaboration seeks to expand the delivery of these therapies beyond liver tissues, potentially addressing cardiovascular-metabolic, rare, and infectious diseases.
The oligonucleotide therapeutics market, valued at over $7b(£5.4b) in 2025, is expected to grow to $18b (£13.9b) by 2030. This growth is driven by DNA- and RNA-based therapies, which face challenges in delivery beyond liver tissues. The partnership will focus on developing workflows to support ligand-conjugated strategies, enabling access to extrahepatic tissues and expanding the therapeutic market.
NATi’s expertise in nucleic acid and chemical modifications will be combined with Agilent’s advanced technologies, including the 1290 Infinity III Bio UHPLC system and Seahorse XF technologies. This collaboration aims to enhance the characterisation, purification, and quality assessment of lipid-modified oligonucleotides, crucial for efficient preclinical development.
Dr Mohamed ElSayed, Executive Director of NATi, stated, “Lipid-conjugated oligonucleotides represent a promising next frontier in nucleic acid therapeutics, particularly in expanding beyond hepatic delivery.” Bharat Bhardwaj, Vice President of APAC Sales at Agilent, added, “Our priority remains to help existing and new biopharma customers accelerate new discoveries through research advancement.”
The agreement includes training and access to Agilent’s Global Solution Development Centre in Singapore. Agilent’s long-term commitment to Singapore is evident in its investment in local scientific capabilities and talent development, reinforcing the country’s status as a biomedical innovation hub.
