From a Complex Workflow to an Integrated System
“RNA has seen tremendous growth in recent years,” says Neerken. “However, the way it is produced and purified remains complex, fragmented, and heavily dependent on manual steps and multiple pieces of equipment.”
RiboFlux brings these steps together in a single automated system in which synthesis, purification and quality control are integrated within a controlled cGMP environment.
An All-in-One Platform: From Early Research to Scalable Production
Penders emphasises that the system introduces a fundamentally different approach. “It is a modular yet fully integrated platform that enables the production of xRNA with consistent quality, without relying on separate process steps across different environments.”
The system uses standardized cartridges in which the entire production process takes place. This significantly reduces batch-to-batch variation and creates a reproducible process that can be scaled towards clinical and commercial manufacturing.
The benefits are particularly significant in the early stages of development. Researchers often begin by producing RNA themselves using research kits and only later switch to standardized manufacturing processes, at which point extensive quality control (QC) testing is introduced. This frequently results in duplicated work, delays and uncertainty in the resulting data.
Quality from the Very First Experiment
A key differentiating feature of RiboFlux is the integration of quality control (QC) directly into the production process. Rather than testing afterwards, analyses are continuously performed within the system and the associated QC data are generated in real time. These data are essential for demonstrating product quality and reproducibility, which are critical requirements for cGMP-compliant processes.
“By working with consistent xRNA from the very beginning, you avoid having to repeat experiments later in the development process,” says Penders. This could shorten drug development timelines by several years.
Open-Access Facility at Pivot Park
As part of the SDI project, RiboFlux will be installed in an open-access facility at Pivot Park. This infrastructure will be accessible to academic groups, biotech companies and pharmaceutical organisations.
“The idea is that researchers from both academia and industry will have access to industrial-grade RNA products at a very early stage,” says Neerken. According to the consortium, no comparable integrated open facility currently exists anywhere in the world. This positions the Netherlands at the forefront of RNA innovation infrastructure.
Faster Development and Lower Risk
The project’s greatest impact lies in accelerating development and reducing risk. Early standardisation makes development programmes more efficient and reduces failure costs in later stages.
“If you work with high-quality materials from the outset, there is less need for corrections later in animal studies or clinical preparation,” explains Penders. “That makes the entire development pathway more robust and faster.”
Strong Consortium and Ecosystem Collaboration
The RiboFlux project is being carried out in close collaboration with several partners, including Pivot Park as an open-access location and knowledge environment, and Radboudumc as a strategic knowledge partner in RNA research and translational biomedical applications. The consortium also works together with biotech company Mercurna, which develops targeted mRNA therapies with tissue-specific delivery for complex immune-mediated diseases.
“The strength of this project lies in the combination of technology, expertise and application,” says Neerken. “We are not just developing technology; we are creating a shared infrastructure to bring medicines to patients faster.”
Applications of xRNA: From Therapeutics to Pandemic Response
The technology behind RiboFlux has broad applicability and can be used for a wide range of purposes, including vaccine development, the production of vaccines for pandemic situations, and oncology as well as other personalised therapies.
According to the consortium, the COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated both how rapidly RNA technology can scale and where bottlenecks in manufacturing and standardisation remain. “What we are doing now is translating those lessons into a structural solution,” says Neerken. “This will allow us to develop faster, more safely and more consistently in the future.”
Project Launch and Call for Talent
The SDI project will start in June 2026 and run for 36 months. During this period, the RiboFlux system will be further developed and validated for use within the open-access facility at Pivot Park. To support this technological development, the team will be expanded. The consortium is looking for specialists in quality control, system integration and RNA process development.
“We are building a new type of infrastructure,” says Penders. “We are looking for specialists who are excited to contribute to and help build the next generation of RNA manufacturing. We invite interested candidates to contact us at info@ribopro.eu.”
Objective
Ultimately, RiboFlux is about more than technology alone. The project will create a unique combination of RiboFlux technology and open innovation infrastructure, with one clear goal: accelerating the development of safe and effective xRNA therapies from lab to patient.
What Are RNA and xRNA Therapies?
RNA (ribonucleic acid)-based therapies use genetic instructions to temporarily direct cells to produce specific proteins. The technology gained worldwide recognition through the mRNA (messenger RNA) COVID-19 vaccines, but is now also being explored for applications such as cancer treatment, personalised medicine and rare diseases.
The term xRNA refers to a broader family of RNA technologies, including mRNA (messenger RNA), saRNA (self-amplifying RNA), and other RNA formats that can be used for diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutic applications.
News June 18, 2026 