DNA Script has announced a partnership with the French Defence Innovation Agency, in liaison with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), to develop a prototype for rapid mobile manufacturing of DNA primers and probes, key components of detection and diagnostic tests for pathogens. 

The joint project will employ DNA Script's enzymatic synthesis platform to generate high-fidelity nucleic acids. The prototypes to be developed by DNA Script will be evaluated by the DGA. As part of the agreement, DNA Script will receive $1.6 million in funding. 

In an emerging biothreat, like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, conventional sources of supply for key reagents (qPCR primers and probes in particular) become a limiting factor. Therefore, it is essential to enable an on-demand, agile source for custom reagent manufacturing. The DGA identified DNA Script's SYNTAX platform, a benchtop instrument that synthesises high-quality, custom nucleic acids in hours, a key capability that enables scientists to iterate faster in response to emerging biothreats, as a potential solution. The underlying core technology, enzymatic DNA synthesis, mimics the enzymatic process used by nature, thus avoiding the use of harsh organic solvents or the need to avoid the presence of air or water as required by conventional chemical approaches commercially available today.  

DNA Script will adapt its SYNTAX platform to enable the synthesis of the DNA reagents such as Taqman probes, required in PCR-based molecular biology diagnostics. SYNTAX uses an enzymatic process for nucleic acid synthesis. 

Thomas Ybert, chief executive officer of DNA Script, said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with the French Ministry for Armed Forces on this important initiative to rapidly detect, characterise and mitigate threats from newly emerging or engineered pathogens. We believe that the speed, efficiency and ease of use of our SYNTAX nucleic acid printer and underlying enzymatic synthesis technology will be critical in addressing future pandemics."