Amplitude Therapeutics and Lilly Partner to Advance Trans-Amplifying RNA Vaccine Platform for Infectious Disease

Amplitude Therapeutics has entered a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to discover and develop vaccine candidates built on Amplitude's trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) platform for infectious diseases.¹ The collaboration will initially target undisclosed infectious disease programs with high unmet need, and Lilly holds an option to add up to two additional infectious disease targets.¹

How does taRNA differ from other RNA vaccine platforms?

Amplitude's taRNA approach separates the replicase and antigen-encoding RNA into two distinct components, rather than encoding both on a single strand as in self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) or conventional messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.¹ Splitting replicase from the antigen-encoding component is a design strategy explored in trans-amplifying RNA research as a way to address the length and stability challenges that arise when both elements are encoded on a single self-amplifying RNA strand.² Amplitude states this design may enable enhanced potency, lower doses, and improved manufacturability relative to other RNA modalities.¹

Next-generation replicating RNA platforms as a category have shown early gains over standard mRNA vaccines in separate clinical work unrelated to Amplitude's taRNA candidates, which remain preclinical. As Andy Geall, PhD, co-founder and chief development officer of Replicate Bioscience, explained in a BioPharm International^© panel discussion on an optimized self-replicating RNA vaccine, "the fact that we didn't reach a maximum tolerated dose means we can dose higher, and this comes into play with multivalent vaccines," a dosing advantage he said is not achievable with conventional linear mRNA constructs.³ Geall's comments concerned a related but distinct RNA platform (self-amplifying rather than trans-amplifying RNA), so the dosing dynamics aren't identical to Amplitude's approach, though both aim to solve similar potency and manufacturability constraints in next-generation RNA vaccines.

"Our ambition at Amplitude is to build a leading in vivo RNA platform by advancing both taRNA and LNP technologies with significant potential to expand what is possible across vaccines and therapeutics," said Dr. Cory Sago, chief executive officer of Amplitude Therapeutics.¹

What does the collaboration structure look like?

Under the agreement, Lilly receives exclusive, target-specific rights to develop and commercialize licensed products directed to the collaboration targets.¹ Amplitude will lead taRNA optimization and selected preclinical research activities under agreed research plans, while Lilly takes on additional preclinical development, clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory activities, and commercialization.¹ Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Who is Amplitude Therapeutics?

Amplitude, a Lilly Gateway Labs community member founded in 2022 and based in Boston, is applying its taRNA platform across infectious disease, protein replacement, immunology, and genetic medicines.¹ The company is backed by ARCH Venture Partners, Newpath Partners, and Alta Partners, and has received non-dilutive support from BARDA, CEPI, and the Gates Foundation.¹

What's next?

Financial and program-specific details, including the initial disease targets, were not disclosed in the announcement.¹ Amplitude will lead early taRNA optimization work before candidates advance into Lilly-led preclinical and clinical development. For more on how next-generation replicating RNA platforms are being positioned to expand beyond first-generation mRNA vaccines, see BioPharm International's related coverage on self-replicating RNA vaccine technology.

References

1. Amplitude Therapeutics. Amplitude Therapeutics and Lilly Enter Strategic Collaboration to Develop Trans-Amplifying RNA Vaccines for Infectious Diseases. Press release. Published August 19, 2026. Accessed August 21, 2026.
2. Yıldız A, Răileanu C, Beissert T. Trans-amplifying RNA: a journey from alphavirus research to future vaccines. Viruses. Published online March 25, 2024.
3. Spivey C, Dormitzer P, Felgner P, Geall A, Ulmer J. The First Optimized Self-Replicating RNA (srRNA) Technology. BioPharm International. Published March 21, 2025. Accessed August 21, 2026.