Cambridge-based company "4basebio PLC" announced on Monday the commercial launch of a new enzymatic platform based on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The technology is designed to overcome manufacturing and functional limitations that have hindered the development of CRISPR therapies and nucleic acid treatments for years.
A new approach to DNA templates
The platform relies on a proprietary cell-free enzymatic process that allows for the production of single-stranded DNA constructs up to 10,000 nucleotides long with protected ends – significantly exceeding the typical capabilities of classic chemical synthesis.
According to the company, the technology ensures higher molecular stability, reduced immunogenicity, and a "cleaner" path to clinical manufacturing. This addresses the growing demand for longer and higher-quality DNA templates, driven by the development of "knock-in" applications in genome editing.
"The launch of our single-stranded DNA platform is a key milestone in our mission to create foundational tools for genomic medicine and personalized therapies," said 4basebio CEO Heige Walker. "By replacing outdated chemical synthesis with our scalable cell-free enzymatic approach, we are enabling our partners to develop therapies without traditional limitations on sequence length or complexity."
Data debut at the ASGCT conference
The announcement coincides with the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) annual conference for 2026, which opens on Monday in Boston and runs through May 15.
Amine Boussaad, Director of Molecular Biology and Genome Editing at 4basebio, plans to present data on the platform in the report ""Enzymatic single-stranded DNA platform solves manufacturing and functional challenges in non-viral CRISPR genome editing"" on May 14 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.
Boussaad notes that the presentation will demonstrate how long-chain single-stranded DNA constructs "significantly increase the efficiency of genome editing via homologous recombination, while maintaining high cell viability in sensitive primary cell types."
Broader ambitions and capacity expansion
The launch of the ssDNA product follows 4basebio's March announcement of a significant increase in production capacity in Cambridge – in response to the growing demand for synthetic DNA for research and high-quality applications.
The company's broader enzymatic platform already supports double-stranded DNA sequences up to 20,000 base pairs in length for areas such as mRNA therapies and AAV-based gene therapy. This expansion aims to serve the full spectrum of needs – from research-grade products to late-stage therapeutic candidates.
In addition to Boussaad's main plenary report, the 4basebio team will also present posters at the ASGCT conference dedicated to improving the safety profile of recombinant AAV vectors and a synthetic DNA nanoplatform for the delivery of tumor suppressor genes.
With these steps, the company positions itself not only as a supplier of DNA materials, but as a key technology partner for the new generation of genomic and cell therapies.