The technology is designed to deliver high-purity long RNA to support CRISPR and functional genomics workflows.
Cirena has launched its long RNA synthesis platform following successful delivery of high-quality RNA products to academic and pharmaceutical research teams across the US, Europe, and Japan.
The Boulder, Colorado-based company produces RNA sequences of 100-400 nucleotides with high purity for CRISPR and genome-editing applications. As researchers increasingly adopt longer guide RNAs to improve editing efficiency and reduce off-target effects, traditional methods of obtaining long RNA—including stitching shorter oligonucleotides together or extended purification processes—have created bottlenecks that can delay projects by months.
“As RNA science evolves, researchers are eager to unlock the potential of longer gRNAs for improved editing precision,” says Marv Caruthers, co-founder of Cirena, in a release. “Cirena enables this exploration by delivering high quality long RNA rapidly, thus eliminating the delays that have historically slowed innovation.”
Addressing Manufacturing Challenges
Long RNA synthesis presents technical challenges that differ from standard short RNA production. The company says its proprietary technology maintains sequence integrity across longer constructs, which is critical for demanding CRISPR and functional genomics workflows.
“While many great companies reliably deliver short RNA, producing long RNA without compromising integrity is notoriously difficult,” says John Rinn, LincSwitch CEO, in a release. “Cirena proved that they can reliably deliver 150nt RNA with exceptional quality across the US, enabling our team to confidently advance experiments without delays.”
The platform supports development of guide RNAs, prime editing guide RNAs, and related constructs used in CRISPR base editing, prime editing, oncology research, vaccine development, and gene regulation studies.
Research Applications
The technology targets applications where longer RNA constructs can improve outcomes. In prime editing, extended guide RNAs help direct more precise genomic modifications. Longer constructs also enable researchers to incorporate additional regulatory elements or structural features that can enhance specificity.
Cirena’s streamlined operations aim to reduce turnaround times compared to traditional synthesis methods, allowing research teams to iterate more quickly through design cycles. The company has established logistics capabilities for global delivery to academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology customers.
The company’s RNA products are intended for research use only.
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