Nagoya, Japan | May 18, 2026
Crafton Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Crafton), a privately held biotech based in Nagoya, Japan, today announced a licensing agreement with FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation (FUJIFILM Wako) to bring to market a novel phosphoramidite reagent designed to enable the synthesis of high-purity messenger RNA (mRNA).
Under this agreement, FUJIFILM Wako will manufacture and distribute the reagent globally for research use, based on Crafton’s proprietary technology. The agreement represents a key milestone in Crafton’s strategy to expand access to its enabling chemistries and support the growing global demand for next-generation mRNA development tools.
The field of mRNA therapeutics continues to advance rapidly, driven by its clinical success in vaccines and increasing applications in oncology and genetic diseases. As new modalities such as chemically synthesized and circular mRNA gain traction, the need for high-quality intermediates—particularly 5’-monophosphorylated RNA—has become increasingly critical. However, challenges remain in achieving the required levels of purity and stability using conventional synthesis approaches.
Crafton’s novel phosphoramidite reagent addresses these challenges by enabling the efficient synthesis of high-purity 5’-monophosphorylated RNA using a phosphoramidite-based chemical synthesis method. The reagent incorporates a UV-cleavable protecting group, which enables a proprietary hydrophobic tagging strategy that facilitates efficient purification via reverse-phase chromatography, allowing for improved separation and overall product quality. In addition, the final UV-based deprotection does not degrade RNA.
Hayato Watanabe, CFA, President and CEO of Crafton, said, “This announcement reflects our continued commitment to advancing the underlying technologies that power next-generation mRNA therapeutics. By enabling access to high-purity RNA intermediates, we are helping to address key bottlenecks in mRNA synthesis and supporting researchers and drug developers working to bring new medicines to patients. We are pleased to collaborate with an established global partner to ensure broad availability of this innovation.”
The product, 2-Cyanoethyl [2,2-dimethyl-1-(2-nitrophenyl)propyl] N,N-Diisopropylphosphoramidite, will be commercially available starting May 20, 2026 through FUJIFILM Wako, for nucleic acid synthesis applications. It is expected to play an important role in accelerating research and development of novel mRNA therapeutics, including cancer vaccines and treatments for genetic diseases.
This commercialization partnership builds on Crafton’s broader strategy of working with leading manufacturing and distribution partners to scale its proprietary technologies globally, complementing its existing platform offerings such as PureCap® and its chemical mRNA synthesis capabilities.
Contact
Crafton Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Email: contact@craftonbio.com
