NTx Bio Launches NTxscribe FLEX to Expand Continuous-Flow RNA Manufacturing for Research and Therapeutic Development
NTx Bio, a biotechnology company specializing in next-generation biomanufacturing technologies, has announced the launch of NTxscribe® FLEX, a new benchtop continuous-flow RNA production system designed to simplify and accelerate RNA manufacturing for research and therapeutic development. The newly introduced platform is aimed at process development scientists, translational researchers, biotechnology companies, and organizations developing RNA-based therapeutics, providing a flexible and scalable solution that bridges the gap between laboratory research and clinical manufacturing.
The introduction of NTxscribe FLEX represents an important milestone in RNA production technology. As demand for messenger RNA (mRNA), self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), gene therapies, and personalized medicines continues to rise, researchers require manufacturing systems that are not only reliable but also capable of adapting to different development stages. NTx Bio developed the new platform to address these needs while reducing the complexity, cost, and time traditionally associated with RNA manufacturing.
NTxscribe FLEX builds upon the company’s established NTxscribe platform and incorporates the same patented continuous-flow hollow fiber bioreactor (HFBR) architecture that powers the larger NTxscribe CORE system. By leveraging this proven technology in a more compact and customizable format, the company aims to provide researchers with greater control over RNA production while maintaining high levels of consistency, quality, and scalability.
Unlike conventional batch manufacturing methods, which often involve multiple manual processing steps and expensive production infrastructure, NTxscribe FLEX integrates several critical stages of RNA manufacturing into a single automated workflow. The platform enables continuous processing from DNA template preparation through in vitro transcription (IVT) and initial purification, significantly reducing manual intervention while shortening production timelines from several days to only a few hours.
Traditional RNA manufacturing has become a major challenge for organizations developing RNA-based medicines. Standard batch production systems require specialized equipment, extensive infrastructure, and labor-intensive workflows. Scaling these laboratory methods into manufacturing suitable for clinical trials frequently requires redesigning processes, purchasing additional equipment, and investing considerable financial resources. These obstacles often delay promising therapeutic programs despite successful scientific research.
Many biotechnology startups, academic laboratories, and translational research groups struggle to transition their discoveries from preclinical research into clinical development because manufacturing capabilities become a limiting factor. Rather than scientific limitations, production costs and manufacturing complexity frequently determine whether promising RNA therapies continue toward commercialization.
NTx Bio designed NTxscribe FLEX specifically to eliminate these bottlenecks. The compact benchtop platform offers researchers a flexible production environment that can be customized according to project requirements without requiring large-scale manufacturing facilities. The same continuous-flow technology is also intended to provide a smoother pathway toward Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production, reducing the need for significant process redevelopment during scale-up.
According to NTx Bio, one of the key strengths of NTxscribe FLEX lies in its continuous-flow hollow fiber bioreactor technology. Unlike batch production, continuous-flow processing maintains carefully controlled reaction conditions throughout RNA synthesis. This improves reproducibility while minimizing process variability that often occurs in conventional manufacturing systems.
The patented HFBR architecture enables shorter reaction residence times and controlled processing conditions, reducing operational complexity while supporting consistent RNA output across different production runs. The technology also minimizes mechanical stress during manufacturing, helping preserve the structural integrity of longer and more complex RNA molecules.
This capability is particularly important as the biotechnology industry increasingly develops sophisticated RNA therapeutics beyond conventional messenger RNA. Longer RNA constructs and complex molecular designs can be more vulnerable to degradation during manufacturing. Continuous-flow processing reduces shear exposure, helping maintain molecule quality throughout production.
NTx Bio emphasizes that NTxscribe FLEX complements rather than replaces its existing NTxscribe CORE platform. While NTxscribe CORE is optimized for standardized, higher-volume manufacturing environments, FLEX has been specifically engineered to maximize flexibility for research and development teams.
Researchers using FLEX can precisely adjust process parameters to produce RNA quantities tailored to individual experimental requirements. Whether manufacturing small research batches or larger translational production runs, users can customize the system without changing platforms or investing in entirely new manufacturing processes.
This flexibility makes the platform particularly valuable for organizations evaluating different RNA constructs, chemistries, formulations, and therapeutic candidates before selecting manufacturing conditions suitable for clinical development.
Dr. Joan Haab, Chief Executive Officer of NTx Bio, said the company views NTxscribe FLEX as the next step in expanding access to advanced RNA manufacturing technology.
She explained that the original NTxscribe platform demonstrated how continuous-flow RNA production could achieve improvements in manufacturing speed, product quality, and scalability compared with traditional batch-based methods. With FLEX, the company has adapted that technology into a more accessible and flexible format capable of serving a wider range of research organizations and biotechnology companies.
According to Dr. Haab, the new platform is intended to support scientists working on novel RNA constructs, translational researchers developing complex RNA therapies, and emerging biotechnology companies building internal RNA manufacturing capabilities. By offering a solution that combines affordability, flexibility, and scalability, NTx Bio hopes to reduce manufacturing barriers that often slow therapeutic innovation.
The company also confirmed that a GMP-capable version of NTxscribe FLEX is expected to become available in early 2027. This will allow organizations currently using the Research Use Only (RUO) platform to transition toward clinical manufacturing without replacing their production system or redesigning manufacturing workflows.
NTxscribe FLEX offers several features designed to improve laboratory productivity and streamline RNA development. The automated workflow minimizes manual intervention while integrating DNA template processing, RNA synthesis, and initial purification into one continuous operation.
The continuous-flow process provides tighter process control, enabling reproducible manufacturing conditions and reducing variability between production runs. Researchers can optimize reaction parameters while maintaining efficient and reliable RNA output.
The system’s design also supports production of long and structurally complex RNA molecules by minimizing prolonged reaction times and reducing mechanical stress that could compromise RNA integrity.
Another important advantage is process continuity. The same technology platform can support projects from early-stage discovery through translational development, minimizing the need for process redevelopment as manufacturing requirements expand.
Its compact benchtop footprint allows deployment in laboratories without requiring large manufacturing suites or extensive facility modifications. Single-operator automation further simplifies routine operation, reducing training requirements while improving laboratory efficiency.
Researchers can also customize production output according to individual project needs, enabling everything from small-scale experimental batches to larger translational manufacturing campaigns on the same platform.
NTx Bio expects NTxscribe FLEX to support numerous RNA development applications across both academic research and commercial biotechnology. Potential use cases include therapeutic messenger RNA development, self-amplifying RNA programs, personalized cancer vaccines, cell and gene therapies, manufacturing process optimization, development of complex RNA constructs, and evaluation by contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).
As RNA therapeutics continue expanding beyond infectious disease vaccines into oncology, rare diseases, regenerative medicine, and genetic disorders, flexible manufacturing technologies are becoming increasingly important. Organizations require production platforms capable of supporting rapid innovation while maintaining quality standards necessary for eventual clinical translation.
NTx Bio believes continuous-flow manufacturing offers significant advantages over traditional batch production by simplifying scale-up, improving reproducibility, and lowering operational complexity. These improvements may help accelerate development timelines while reducing manufacturing costs that have historically limited RNA therapeutic commercialization.
The company plans to make NTxscribe FLEX available for Research Use Only (RUO) beginning in Summer 2026, giving research organizations early access to the technology for laboratory and process development applications. A GMP-capable version is expected in early 2027, enabling users to advance seamlessly into clinical manufacturing and ultimately commercial production using the same continuous-flow platform.
Headquartered in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, NTx Bio focuses on advancing biomanufacturing technologies that support personalized medicine and next-generation therapeutics. In addition to the NTxscribe platform, the company is developing innovative manufacturing systems such as NTxpress® to enable sustainable production of RNA and protein therapeutics across a wide range of manufacturing scales. Through these technologies, NTx Bio aims to provide researchers and biotechnology companies with efficient, scalable, and flexible manufacturing solutions that accelerate the development of future RNA-based medicines.
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