Southern RNA

What Southern RNA does

Southern RNA is a Brisbane-based mRNA Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) founded in 2021, specializing in the manufacture of mRNA raw materials and drug substance for therapeutic developers. The company serves biotech and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and hospitals requiring GMP-grade nucleic acid manufacturing for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), vaccines, and gene therapies. Its primary customer base comprises therapeutic developers working on mRNA-based therapeutics and clinical trial sponsors needing First in Human (FIH) and Phase 1 & 2 manufacturing support, with named engagements including the University of Queensland's PaedNEO-VAX paediatric brain cancer vaccine program and Providence Therapeutics' cancer vaccine pipeline.

The company's core technology platform encompasses ready-to-order mRNA drug substance, a proprietary Co Cap™ A co-transcriptional capping reagent designed to lower the cost of in vitro transcription (IVT), and plasmid DNA starting material for ATMP manufacturing. Operational infrastructure includes a GMP Manufacturing Facility in Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, and R&D laboratories at the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. The company is establishing Queensland's first semi-automated sterile fill and finish platform for clinical drug manufacturing, funded through a A$2.2 million Queensland Government grant awarded in May 2026. Analytical services featuring Process Analytics Technologies (PAT) and quality control testing support both internal manufacturing and external clients.

Southern RNA generates revenue through project-based CDMO contracts with biotech and pharmaceutical clients, as well as direct product sales of mRNA raw materials, the Co Cap™ A reagent, and plasmid DNA. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with engagement typically structured as multi-year contracts. Distribution operates through direct enterprise sales for CDMO services and a website-based self-serve portal (SmartSheet forms) for ready-to-order products. The company operates primarily in Australia but claims global reach, supported by strategic partnerships with the University of Queensland's BASE facility and Providence Therapeutics.

Name

Southern RNA

Legal name

Southern RNA

Website

https://southernrna.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern RNA is a Brisbane-based Australian mRNA CDMO founded in 2021 that manufactures GMP-grade mRNA raw materials and drug substance for therapeutic developers, biotech companies, and academic researchers, offering proprietary capping reagents, plasmid DNA, and clinical trial manufacturing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical CDMO Services

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO (HLAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC) (HLAAADAF)

Keywords

• MRNA manufacturing
• Contract development manufacturing
• Nucleic acid production
• Plasmid DNA production
• GMP clinical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. CDMO Services: Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services providing mRNA manufacturing, analytical services, and drug substance production for biotech and pharmaceutical clients. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for therapeutic development support.
2. mRNA Product Sales:

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Southern RNA is a Contract Development Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) that produces GMP-grade mRNA raw materials and drug substance for therapeutic developers. The company manufactures ready-to-order mRNA, the proprietary Co Cap™ A capping reagent, and plasmid DNA starting material for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). It also provides analytical testing services and contract manufacturing for First in Human (FIH) and Phase 1 & 2 clinical trials from its GMP facility in Brisbane.

Product overview

Southern RNA is a leading mRNA Contract Development Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) based in Brisbane, Australia, founded in 2021. The company operates a portfolio of core products and services for mRNA and nucleic acid manufacturing. Products include Ready-to-order mRNA (drug substance), Co Cap™ A mRNA cap analog (IVT reagent), and Plasmid DNA Raw Material (starting material for ATMPs). Services encompass CDMO/Bioprocessing services with GMP Manufacturing Facility capability for First in Human (FIH) and Phase 1 & 2 Clinical Trials, plus Analytical Services for Process Analytics Technologies and quality control. The company operates GMP Labs in Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, and R&D Labs in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ready-to-order mRNA

Quantifiable outcome

• Queensland's first semi-automated sterile fill and finish platform for clinical drug manufacturing, reducing dependence on overseas manufacturing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Providence TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2025International cancer vaccine research collaboration bringing cancer vaccine research to the Gold Coast. This partnership represents a major step forward for personalised medicine in Australia, with Southern RNA providing manufacturing capabilities for Providence's cancer vaccine development programs.
• University of Queensland (UQ) BASE FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Southern RNA and The BASE Facility at The University of Queensland have established a collaborative framework that bridges academic research and clinical translation. Together, they provide a clear and efficient pathway from early research to commercial manufacturing, accelerating Australia's RNA innovation pipeline.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lonza: Global leader in contract manufacturing with established mRNA and nucleic acid CDMO capabilities. Direct competitor for Southern RNA's target biotech customers seeking mRNA drug substance manufacturing at scale.
• Catalent: Large CDMO with biologics and nucleic acid manufacturing capabilities, including mRNA and plasmid DNA services. Competes head-to-head for ATMP and clinical-stage mRNA manufacturing contracts.
• Cobra Biologics (Charles River Laboratories): CDMO with plasmid DNA and viral vector services, now part of Charles River. Competes for ATMP and gene therapy manufacturing clients who also need pDNA starting material for mRNA production.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon / Brammer Bio): Major CDMO with viral vector and nucleic acid manufacturing services including mRNA capabilities. Competes for the same biotech and pharma clients needing GMP mRNA drug substance.

Direct peers

• Aldevron: Specialised CDMO producing plasmid DNA, mRNA, and proteins for clinical and commercial applications. Closely comparable in product offering (pDNA + mRNA) and customer base (gene therapy / vaccine developers).
• Vernal Biosciences: US-based mRNA CDMO offering preclinical and clinical-grade mRNA manufacturing including IVT reagents and drug substance. Closely comparable scale and service offering to Southern RNA.
• TriLink BioTechnologies (Maravai LifeSciences): mRNA CDMO and nucleic acid reagent supplier offering IVT reagents, cap analogs, and CleanCap technology. Direct competitor in both CDMO services and mRNA reagents (including cap analogs, competing with Co Cap™ A).

Emerging players

• CureVac: mRNA technology company with proprietary IVT and capping IP and active manufacturing capability. Comparable in technology focus (mRNA platform, capping chemistry) though larger and developer-led.
• BioNTech: mRNA therapeutics developer and manufacturer expanding CDMO services (BioNTech CDMO Services). Competes for clinical and commercial mRNA manufacturing contracts and signals the scale Southern RNA may need to reach.

Others

• New England Biolabs (NEB): Manufacturer of nucleic acid reagents including IVT enzymes and capping reagents. Comparable in the reagent side of Southern RNA's Co Cap™ A offering but does not provide CDMO services.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-rna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern RNA