Foreword

I am delighted to welcome you to Nucleic Acid Insights! 

This new journal represents something old and something new for BioInsights. Over the past few years, we have increasingly covered the messenger RNA (mRNA), plasmid DNA (pDNA), and lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) fields through our three established journals—Cell & Gene Therapy Insights, Immuno-Oncology Insights, and Vaccine Insights. However, we feel the time is now right to give nucleic acids its own platform, allowing us to cover the aforementioned specific areas in greater depth, whilst also affording us the opportunity to explore the oligonucleotide space in earnest for the first time.

As pathways to clinical and commercial ‘proof of concept’ for emerging modalities go, that trodden by mRNA and LNPs in the form of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines was unusual to say the least. However, what is perhaps most significant as the field now looks to the future is the fact that CAGR estimates generally point to double-digit growth throughout the course of the next decade, despite the inevitable major loss of revenue caused in part by the huge success of the COVID-19 vaccines themselves. While investment in expanding the reach of mRNA and LNPs into new applications and therapeutic areas will remain a key driver for this growth, there is of course much more to the nucleic acids field. We can look forward to more and more novel vaccines and therapeutics reaching the market, and building on the extensive knowledge base that has been built over the past two decades and more in both lab and clinic. Furthermore, there is a tremendously exciting and diverse range of applications beyond vaccines and therapeutics to consider—opportunities abound for RNA and DNA innovation in in vitro modelling, gene editing platform development, diagnostics, synthetic raw materials, and data storage to name but a few.

Nucleic Acid Insights is designed to fill a number of important gaps in the current range of media and publications for the field by drawing its many disparate strands together in a single open access online resource.

We cover all the component technology areas with BioInsights’ established blend of independently peer reviewed, deep technical/scientific content and strategically-pitched commentary, allowing our members to delve into the data for specific tools and technologies whilst gaining a better understanding of how it all fits into the bigger picture.

We include all functions relevant to the space, from manufacturing to market access, and from regulatory affairs to preclinical/translational/clinical R&D.

As a translational journal, we look to the future through the eyes of our expert Editorial Advisory Board Members and contributors, providing usable insights to help shape and drive the development of the next wave of nucleic acid technologies and ultimately, speed delivery of their benefits to the patients who need them. 

For our launch, we have aimed to offer ‘status updates’ on some key technology areas, and a glimpse of what lies ahead, through the perspectives of some of the foremost thought leaders working in and around nucleic acids today. Many thanks to all of those who have kindly taken part and to the members of our Editorial Advisory Board. 

I hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of Nucleic Acid Insights!