Oligonucleotide manufacturing innovation: challenges, risks, and opportunities

Oligonucleotides represent a rapidly advancing class of therapeutic molecules with the potential to treat a broad range of diseases, including those previously considered untreatable. Despite the promise of these therapies, large-scale manufacturing presents significant challenges related to cost, scalability, and environmental sustainability. Current solid-phase phosphoramidite synthesis, while well established, is limited in batch size and efficiency, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for oligonucleotide-based drugs. Innovative approaches such as solution-phase synthesis, fragment assembly, and enzymatic synthesis offer potential solutions to these limitations, enabling higher yields, reduced waste, and improved process sustainability. This article explores the key technological advances and obstacles in oligonucleotide manufacturing, including purification complexities, the environmental impact of production, and the evolving role of stereochemistry in therapeutic efficacy. As the field progresses, a diversified manufacturing landscape incorporating multiple methodologies will be essential to ensuring the scalability and accessibility of oligo­nucleotide therapies while addressing sustainability concerns.

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