RNA Supply Chain Articles

1. What Violin Making Can Teach Us About mRNA Therapeutic Quality 8/8/2022

   Managing the mRNA supply chain and working in mRNA process development may not look anything like the work a luthier does to hew an instrument from an ancient spruce tree. But violin craftmanship actually serves as a fantastic metaphor for the challenging work the mRNA therapeutics space is tackling in sourcing and qualifying raw materials and optimizing the critical IVT reaction.

2. The Price Is… Almost Right: mRNA Edition! COGS Reduction Strategies 8/28/2025

   The following article will outline the current state of COGS in the mRNA industry and the work he and his colleagues undertook to more effectively utilize raw materials. But heaven forbid this be your normal conference panel write-up. No, below I share Parrella’s insights, but in the form of a never-before released episode of The Price is Right…or perhaps more fittingly given the state of the industry today, this spectacle is more aptly titled: The Price is…Sort Of, Almost, Not Quite Right! 

3. FDA Sets Recommendations For Predicting Dangerous Nitrosamine Impurities 10/25/2023

   The FDA recently published a final guidance that sets a recommended framework for predicting the potential of nitrosamine drug substance-related impurities.

4. How Can We Move RNA Forward In Our Therapeutics Arsenal? 7/18/2022

   RNA technologies, including mRNA therapeutics, have emerged as a promising drug modality. However, they have unique challenges. BioPhorum has dedicated a team to investigate these challenges and this Q&A shares their practical considerations for how to move this field forward.

5. Plasmid Production: 3 Key Takeaways For mRNA Manufacturing 4/14/2025

   Following my latest Live panel on analytical and manufacturing technology innovations for mRNA production, I wanted to provide a few high-level takeaways I gleaned from our discussion on the overlooked darling of the mRNA space: The plasmid. 

6. Beyond The Gold Standard(s): Modernizing Oligonucleotide Synthesis 4/13/2026

   A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit down with OPT Congress speaker Phil Baran, Richard Lerner Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research. Baran was slated to (and did) present a keynote on the innovations shaping the next generation of oligo synthesis. Here, I share the biggest takeaways I had from our conversation, touching on how he sees the science of oligo chemistry and manufacturing advancing in the near and far future. 

7. Multidisciplinary mRNA: What Can We Learn From Other CGTs? 5/20/2024

   Overall, there are four high-level best practices/mindsets I proposed during a recent presentation that I believe will be crucial for us to bring some talented RNA therapeutic role models to the forefront. But there is one best practice that I think is worth emphasizing more than the others.

8. Sourcing Plasmid DNA From CDMOs Got More Challenging — Here's Why 11/19/2024

   The demand for plasmid DNA products is intrinsically linked to unique market conditions and funding environments. Here's what's driving them.

9. Picasso, Pick-Up Lines, & Personalized Medicine: mRNA's Path Forward 6/27/2025

   Overall, my presentation on what the mRNA industry can learn from the artist Picasso singled out a few specific areas from which I felt our industry could garner greater inspiration and operational prowess. But given how “collaborative” many of these sources of inspiration are, I’ve introduced each of my takeaways with a surprisingly relevant (albeit bad) art-themed pick-up line. After all, if there’s one sector that knows it takes more than one to “tango,” it’s the mRNA industry.

10. Addressing Challenges In Serialization For Complex Therapeutics 5/7/2024

    The magnitude of serialization, especially for firms with extensive portfolios and intricate supply chains, poses serious challenges. This discussion offers solutions.