RNA Supply Chain Articles

1. Moderna & The Global mRNA Supply Chain: Regulatory Lessons Learned 3/29/2023

   One of the most important reminders I took away from Moderna’s experiences ushering its mRNA vaccine onto the global market is that a commercial manufacturing process must also be accompanied by a commercially ready supply chain. Though sufficient physical volumes of each raw material and a redundant supplier network are necessities, physical scale is not the only “CQA” for which we must account when commercializing our supply chain. 

2. 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.

3. Assessing Quality Of mRNA Vaccines: Key Considerations 10/12/2022

   To address the need for standards for mRNA vaccines, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has convened vaccine experts to identify important quality attributes and to propose test methods that can be used to assess mRNA vaccine products. This article shares those CQAs and analytical procedure tips.

4. From Misinformation To Medicine: Forging Bipartisan Support to Reverse Anti-mRNA Policy 10/9/2025

   In this article, I’ll share some of the progress AMM has made and the barriers the organization/our industry is still facing in our efforts to reverse the policy decisions that have been made against mRNA today. Throughout the panel, the speakers also shared their thoughts on the types of messaging we should be considering and/or have started to see making an impact. 

5. 4 Risk Mitigation Strategies For mRNA Production 4/17/2023

   Planning and procuring custom materials needed to manufacture mRNA remains a top concern. This article shares risk mitigation strategies for multi-sourcing, S&OP process, packaging size, and material expiry.

6. The mRNA Supply Chain Revolution: Materials, Methods, And Momentum 1/30/2026

   mRNA innovation now hinges as much on manufacturing materials as on molecular design, with novel inputs shaping performance, cost, and scalability. As these less-mature materials move rapidly into production, strategic material selection and supplier alignment are becoming critical to manufacturing resilience and long-term success.

7. ARW's ATMP Manufacturing Must-Reads (2024 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS EDITION!) 1/12/2024

   Day-in and day-out, I write, read, listen to, and watch as much content as I can about CGT and RNA therapy manufacturing, in particular, and/or other ATMP industry-related topics that you should at least be aware of in the manufacturing facility. Once a month, I compile the articles and industry updates I think are most worthy of your time into an unconventional newsletter format (below) and send them out via email.

8. "Mirror, Mirror…": Reflections On Reducing mRNA Production COGS 4/21/2025

   Here, I outline three overarching words of wisdom I gleaned from Life Edit Therapeutics’ April Sena; Tune Therapeutics’ Tyler Goodwin; and University of Sheffield’s Adi on how the mRNA/RNA industry can better control production costs — particularly as it relates to raw material sourcing and usage.  

9. “To Thine Own [mRNA Product] Be True:” Shakespeare's Guide To RNA GMP Principles 3/11/2024

   In the following article, I offer some of the biggest tips and tricks experts offered during a panel discussion on the challenges of navigating GMP principles in the RNA space today — with a little bit of help from Shakespeare himself. 

10. 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!