Oligonucleotides (ONs) find a vast variety of
applications in molecular biology and medicine. The word oligonucleotide is
derived from the Greek word olÃgoi which means small, tiny, or few, and
nucleotide which means the building blocks of nucleic acids. Oligonucleotides
target errors in the genetic code - the root causes of diseases.
The most common set of oligonucleotide therapeutics
include small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) involved in RNA interference (RNAi),
antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small activating RNAs (saRNAs), aptamers,
and guide RNAs (gRNAs) present in CRISPR gene editing technology.
Oligonucleotide synthesis provides rapid and inexpensive access to custom made
oligonucleotides of the desired sequence, hence is widely used in current
laboratory practice.
The main success of ONs is due to its cutting-edge
influence on the protein synthesis at a pre-translational level. These molecules act in a peculiar way in the
cellular process and regulate the gene expression, hence, are considered best
for the usage in findings of rare disorders that have been previously
untreatable.
Production challenges of ONs:
Unfortunately, the production cost of ONs is very high
because of hugely expensive raw materials. This in turn, strongly limits large
scale manufacturing of oligonucleotide. In the past, oligonucleotide synthesis
was performed manually in solution or on solid phase. Now-a-days, the synthesis
is carried out automatically through oligonucleotide synthesizers which are computer-controlled
instruments.
Furthermore, the solvents used in the production of
oligonucleotide such as ethanol, toluene, and acetonitrile are hazardous, which
further increases the cost of transportation. The synthesis of oligonucleotide
reactions uses an array of flammable solvent per kilogram of drug substance
produced. Therefore, the availability of critical impurities in chemical
preparations is an important regulatory and safety consideration during the
oligonucleotide manufacturing process.
Sustainable oligonucleotide synthesis:
The sustainability of the oligonucleotide manufacturing
process can be evaluated through several ways. A series of green chemistry
tools including reagent and solvent guides, a Principal Component Analysis
(PCA) solvent selection tool, and a PMI calculator has been developed to help
chemists and engineers assess and improve the sustainability of oligonucleotide
chemical processes.
Current market dynamics:
According to a report published by Allied Market
Research, the global oligonucleotide synthesis market size is registered to reach
$26.0 billion with a considerable CAGR from 2021 to 2030. The Asia-Pacific
region is expected to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecasted
period. The growth is attributed to factors such as economic development, increase
in cases of chronic disorders, expansion of healthcare infrastructure, rise in
focus on personalized medicine, and increase in government support and
investment for improving the health of people.
At the same time, surge in R&D expenditure in
biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies to develop oligonucleotide
products that can provide enhanced therapeutic effects and possess less side
effects is driving the growth of the market. Few more factors such as
upgradation in purification of synthetic oligonucleotide, rise in demand for
high end customized oligos, and increase in number of applications of
synthesized ONs in molecular diagnostics & clinical purposes are propelling
the growth of the market to a great extent. As the automation capacities are
expanding, the cost of oligonucleotide synthesis is decreasing.
COVID-19 impact on the industry:
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted
workflows in the healthcare sector and had forced many industries to shut their
operations temporarily. However, the pandemic had a positive impact on the growth
of the global oligonucleotide synthesis industry, owing to a significant surge
in demand for oligonucleotide products. The urgency for a potential treatment
of the infection caused by the novel Coronavirus created the need to develop
new generations of ONs drugs such as mRNA and DNA vaccines.
Technological advancements and collaborative
approaches:
With the gradual industry growth on board, the key market
players adopted different business strategies such as new product launch,
partnerships, and collaboration in order to stay competitive in the market,
especially in 2020 since the pandemic. For instance, Biolegio B.V.
(Netherlands) increased its production capabilities in 2020 with an aim to
deliver primers and probes for RT-qPCR testing of the Coronavirus and succeeded
to supply laboratories and customers with enough amount of primer and probe
sets required for performing tests.
Similarly, Bio-Synthesis Inc. (US) delivered ready-to-use
cocktail mixes such as the Human RNase P (RP) Oligo Mix, the SARS-CoV-2 N2
Oligo Mix, and the SARS-CoV-2 N1 Oligo Mix for COVID-19 research. On the other
hand, TriLink Biotechnologies in partnership with Imperial College London
manufactured self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) for the development of COVID-19
vaccine. With this drift on board, the global oligonucleotide synthesis
industry has a huge scope to gather exponential growth.
Abstract:
The article provides readers an in-depth information on
the evolving oligonucleotide synthesis market, especially highlighting the
business drivers, restraining factors, and opportunities for growth. Considerable
advancements have been done in the design of oligo drugs, allowing for the
development of therapeutics that have greatly enhanced stability.
To sum up, therapeutic oligonucleotides are going to emerge
even more in the upcoming years, owing to the ability to treat a wide range of human
diseases. With a huge surge of interest
and momentum in therapeutic oligonucleotides, key players can make the best use
of technology to produce high end customized oligos.
Author’s Bio:
Suchita Gupta is an explorer, musician and
content writer. While pursuing MBA, she found that nothing satisfies her more
than writing on miscellaneous domains. She is a writer by day, and a reader by
night. Besides, she can be found entertaining her audience on social media
platforms. Find her on LinkedIn & Instagram.
References:
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/oligonucleotide-synthesis-market-A08356
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/oligonucleotide-synthesis-market.html
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