How Vernal Helped Akagera Boost Vaccine Efficacy, Cut Costs, and Speed Development
Pioneering mRNA Therapies for Infectious Diseases in Cost-Sensitive Regions
Founded in 2019, Akagera Medicines is advancing novel liposomal formulations of antibacterial drugs to enhance drug delivery and uptake in macrophages, key immune cells that drive phagocytosis. Their innovative approach targets challenging infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and HIV, as well as widespread viral threats like influenza and RSV.
With a strong focus on cost-sensitive regions, particularly in Africa, Akagera is committed to developing accessible and effective therapies to address unmet medical needs. Their proprietary liposomal nanoparticle technology improves the delivery of potent antibacterial agents, optimizing therapeutic efficacy and enhancing treatment outcomes.
While liposomal drug delivery remains Akagera’s core focus—rather than mRNA-encoded therapeutic proteins—their development pipeline also includes mRNA-based vaccines. These vaccines are designed to offer cost-effective, scalable solutions for infectious disease prevention, furthering their mission to combat global health challenges.
Delivering Affordable, High-Quality mRNA Solutions for Infectious Disease Therapies
Download the full case study to learn how Akagera Medicines partnered with Vernal Biosciences to enhance mRNA vaccine efficacy, accelerate development, and ensure high-purity mRNA—advancing breakthrough treatments for infectious diseases.
The Challenge: Ensuring High-Purity mRNA for Reliable Therapeutic Development
Drug Affordability & Accessibility
Akagera Medicines is committed to developing cost-effective, accessible therapies for patients in resource-limited regions. Achieving this required high-purity mRNA that would reduce costly setbacks and provide a clear path to clinical application.
Accelerating Research & Development
To advance their vaccine and therapeutic programs, Akagera needed a trusted supplier that could provide consistent, ultra-pure mRNA. Previous suppliers delivered materials with up to 20% impurities, leading to inconsistent results and delaying the transition from early research to clinical trials.
Ensuring mRNA Purity & Reliability
Competitor mRNA contained high levels of degradation products, such as double-stranded RNA, which compromised experimental accuracy and hindered progress. To maintain the integrity of their R&D pipeline, Akagera required a supplier capable of delivering development-ready, ultra-pure mRNA to ensure reliable and reproducible results.
“If you want to have good quality mRNA production, I highly recommend Vernal. I don’t usually use people exclusively unless it’s in this kind of a situation.”
Daryl C. Drummond, PhD,
Chief Science Officer, Senior Vice President, and Founder
Akagera Medicines
