bYoRNA is developing a disruptive, patented technology for producing messenger RNA (mRNA) via yeast fermentation, an alternative to the current in vitro transcription (IVT) process. This approach will significantly reduce the immunogenicity of the mRNAs produced, improve their efficiency while allowing for better tissue targeting and diminishing the production cost by two orders of magnitude.

They can produce 10,000-nucleotide mRNA as easily as 4,000-nucleotide mRNA, with neither dsRNA nor fragments, due to the yeast built-in quality control machinery.

Over the past six months, bYoRNA has achieved the necessary productivity and purity levels for testing in cell and animal models. Current work focuses on validating the biological quality of the produced mRNAs, with results expected by mid-2026 in cell models (protein expression and functionality) and then in animal models (tolerance and biological activity).

They have raised $10M+ in dilutive and non-dilutive funding and secured partnerships for proof-of-concepts on 3 critical indications with TRON, the mRNA research institute created by the founders of BIONTECH, as well as a leading animal pharma company and a major European rare disease institute.

This milestone, crucial for demonstrating the quality of their mRNAs compared to those produced by IVT, will enable them to launch their Series A funding round with a target amount of $12 million. This funding will accelerate the scaling up of the fermentation process, industrialize the purification steps, produce pilot batches compliant with pre-GMP requirements, and initiate initial industrial collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Ultimately, the technology developed aims to become an industrial platform supporting the development of innovative vaccines and therapies, while reducing the costs and production times associated with current technologies.