Downstream processing of oligonucleotides: meeting regulatory and commercial demands

Piotr Putaj obtained his PhD from the University of Lyon, France (Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry LCOMS) in 2012. After two post-doctoral stays at the Charles University in Prague, Czechia and RWTH Aachen, Germany he transitioned to the biotech industry in 2017. He held various scientific and managerial positions at Future Synthesis (Poznan, Poland), MultiplexDX (Bratislava, Slovakia) and AIRNA Bio (Tübingen, Germany).

He is currently a Director of Oligonucleotide Chemistry at VICO Therapeutics in Leiden, the Netherlands. His research interests include optimization of potency and safety profile of oligonucleotides, new methodologies of bioconjugation and targeted delivery to tissues and organs.At VICO Therapeutics we are pioneering RNA-based science to target the root cause of rare genetic neurological diseases. Our lead molecule VO659 is the first clinical candidate directly targeting the CAG repeat expansion mutation that causes all polyglutamine diseases (e.g. Huntington disease).

Dovilė Lingaitytė is a Senior Scientist specialising in structural mass spectrometry for oligonucleotides. Her scientific career is built on a strong academic foundation, beginning with studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Reading, followed by doctoral research at the University of Southampton. Her PhD thesis, “Characterisation of Complex MDI Oligomers using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry,” established her expertise in advanced chromatographic techniques, structural analysis, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. 

Following her doctoral work, Dovilė joined the University of Surrey as a Senior Research Technician, where she specialised in targeted metabolomics and chronobiology, gaining extensive experience in quantitative LCMS/MS, data interpretation, and rigorous laboratory practice. She later advanced to a Senior Analyst role at Exactmer, a startup focused on precision polymer and liquid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. There, she played a pivotal role in developing analytical capability from the ground up, leading method development efforts, characterising oligonucleotides and other polymeric systems, and supporting multidisciplinary teams with high-quality analytical insights. 

In her current position as Senior Scientist at GSK, Dovilė focuses on high-resolution MS/MS characterisation of oligonucleotides, impurity profiling, and the development of robust analytical workflows to support innovation in nucleic acid research. She is recognised for her ability to translate complex analytical data into clear, actionable understanding and for her commitment to supporting scientific progress through precision, communication, and continuous learning. 

Jared Jackson has worked in the oligonucleotide field since 2013. He attended Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA, where he studied Biochemistry. His undergraduate research was conducted under Professor Jon M. Fukuto and involved performing organic synthesis centered around Nitric Oxide. 

In 2013, he began working at LGC Biosearch Technologies, where he performed Final QC and analytical method development using LC/MS and HPLC systems. He later moved into a process development role, focusing on synthesis method development as well as troubleshooting Cleavage and Deprotection protocols. 

After 8 years at LGC, he joined Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals in Novato, CA, where he led internal synthesis, purification, and analytical development of all antisense oligonucleotides. He synthesized multiple modalities, including LNA gapmer, MOE steric blocking ASOs, and siRNA. Multiple conjugated modalities were also incorporated into these oligonucleotides to improve delivery. In addition to synthesis, he was responsible for purification of all oligonucleotides, using various RP and AX methods to achieve in vivo grade material. He also conducted analytical characterization of the materials he synthesized and purified using LC/MS methods.