Introduction

The mRNA Therapeutics Summit is always a moment of alignment for the field, a pulse check not just on science, but on the momentum of RNA medicines. This year, the conversations made one thing clear: we’ve moved beyond the question of “can mRNA work?” and into a new phase of how far it can go. From oncology to autoimmune disease, circular RNA to endosomal escape, the science is racing ahead. And the path to the clinic now depends on one thing: clarity.

At Eclipsebio, that’s exactly where we come in.

A field entering its second act

Across the sessions, there was consensus: mRNA is no longer confined to infectious disease. We heard it directly from industry leaders like Ron Philip, CEO of Orbital, who predicts that RNA therapeutics will extend into more common diseases, and Sophia Lugo, CEO of Radar Therapeutics, who noted that breakthroughs in extrahepatic delivery are pushing new frontiers.

CureVac’s Chief Business Officer, Thaminda Ramanayake, captured the sentiment best in his talk on “mRNA 2.0.” The new generation of RNA medicines will be built on four pillars: innovation, collaboration, education, and sustainability. All four pillars are critical to unlocking the broader therapeutic potential of RNA.

The rise of circular RNAs

A standout theme this year was the emergence of circular RNAs (circRNAs). Unlike traditional mRNAs, these structures offer transiency, ability to redose, and durability at lower production costs than traditional cell therapies. During a panel of circRNA experts, it was clear this modality is poised to reshape how we think about disease management and cures, particularly in oncology, where a single-dose cure is unlikely.

Orbital’s CSO, Gilles Besin, took the conversation further. He walked through the trajectory of circRNA development and shared updates on OTX-201, their investigational therapy for B cell-driven autoimmune diseases. The preclinical data for OTX-201 has confirmed that it is potent and safe, and the company plans to move into the clinic in the first half of 2026.

The bottlenecks of RNA development

Despite the enthusiasm, the summit didn’t shy away from challenges. Manufacturing and delivery were recurring pain points. As Joseph Payne, CEO of Arcturus, put it: “RNA is a perfect drug, the challenges are in manufacturing and delivery.”

We heard those echoed across sessions:

• Ramanayake emphasized the need for smarter delivery, including targeted LNPs and improved endosomal escape.
• Jianmei Kochling of Sanofi raised critical questions about how effective the field is at predicting how RNA sequence changes will affect manufacturing processes and the need for new technologies to obtain more data for assessing RNA quality.
• Besin touched on targeted delivery, noting how adding miRNA binding sites could help limit off-target expression. The combination of sequence design paired with LNP formulation optimization can lead therapies that are active only in the target tissue or cell type.

The challenges with assessing and optimizing delivery and manufacturing aren’t theoretical hurdles. They’re analytical gaps.

Where Eclipsebio fits in

This is precisely where Eclipsebio operates, in the space between potential and proof. Our sequencing-based solutions help teams deeply understand how RNA behaves inside the actual system of interest. That’s not just insight. It’s insurance.

At the summit, our Head of Scientific Strategy, Wayne Doyle, shared some of the ways we’re de-risking preclinical development with our eMERGE platform. From direct detection of dsRNA impurities to mapping RNA fragments and assessing translational impact, our capabilities are designed to deliver modern quality control and meaningful interpretation.

Why this matters now

With next-generation modalities like circular RNA advancing and delivery technologies evolving rapidly, traditional analytical methods aren’t keeping pace. Drug developers need smarter analytics that match the complexity of today’s RNA constructs.

Eclipsebio’s mission is to close that gap and give our partners the clarity they need to move forward with confidence. Seeing so many of them present at the summit was more than rewarding, it was proof that we’re solving the right problems.

If you’re navigating the challenges of modern RNA medicine and want to explore how our platform can support your next program, let’s talk. Our scientific team would be happy to connect and help you move forward to the clinic with confidence.