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From Lab to Clinic: How z- dbDNA is Changing RNA Cell Therapy

By September 16, 2025Resources3 min read

From Lab to Clinic: How z- dbDNA™ is Changing RNA Cell Therapy

 

RNA is revolutionising cell therapy. Whether it’s encoding genome-editing tools such as Cas9 to make precise DNA edits or delivering protein-coding instructions that reprogramme immune cells, RNA offers a fast, adaptable, and highly targeted approach to treatment.

In the development of cell-based therapies, RNA plays a central role in engineering solutions for a wide-range of conditions; from oncology, including the transformative CAR T therapies, to regenerative medicine and immune system disorders. These advances are opening new therapeutic avenues and offering renewed hope to patients facing cancer, rare genetic diseases, and beyond.

Unlocking RNA’s full therapeutic potential requires overcoming a critical manufacturing bottleneck. While RNA-based technologies are driving innovation across cell and gene therapies, the ability to produce high-quality RNA at the scale, speed, and consistency demanded by clinical and commercial applications remains a formidable challenge. Traditional manufacturing approaches, particularly those relying on plasmid DNA templates, introduce several limitations. These templates are produced in bacteria, leading to unwanted impurities, and their production is associated with long lead times and complex workflows. Such constraints not only slow the pace of innovation, ultimately impacting the timely delivery of transformative therapies to patients.

z- dbDNA™ Offers Next-Generation RNA Template Solutions

Touchlight’s cell-free z- dbDNA is purpose-built for in vitro transcription (IVT), delivering a high-purity, high performance DNA template without the need for a Master Cell Bank. The result: faster timelines, greater flexibility, and a streamlined path from early development to GMP production.

Advantages of z- dbDNA™ For RNA Manufacturing

  • Up to 50% increased mRNA yield using less DNA
  • Supports complex designs, including long sequences (up to 20 kb) and polyA tails
  • Two RNA-based or derived products already in clinic manufactured using z- dbDNA
  • Eliminates bacterial sequences for enhanced purity, a functionally smaller DNA template
  • Rapid turnaround for GMP-quality material
  • Scalable production for mRNA, saRNA, circRNA

Why it Matters For Cell Therapy

In ex vivo applications such as CAR-T or stem-cell therapies, RNA delivery can be the fastest, safest way to reprogramme cells to the desired phenotype. Leveraging Touchlight’s z- dbDNA IVT templates enables manufacturers to produce RNA of exceptional purity (and low dsRNA impurities). This approach not only improves IVT efficiency and yields, but also requires less DNA input, resulting in lower production costs while improving product quality.

For developers, this means:

  • Reduced template usage for equivalent or improved yield
  • Reliable, consistent quality for regulatory confidence
  • Accelerated progression from research to clinical manufacturing

These advantages make z- dbDNA a compelling solution for accelerating the development and scalability of advanced cell therapies.

Stay tuned for part two of this blog series, where we’ll explore the role of z- dbDNA in RNA gene therapy. In the meantime, explore how z- dbDNA can accelerate your manufacturing process here.