Cisterna Biologics · Mar 2026
Official company update describing successful completion of an NSF SBIR Phase I project demonstrating yeast-engineered mRNA purification and function in human cells.
High quality mRNA for therapeutic application
Company research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Overview
Cisterna Biologics is a Carlsbad, California biotech founded in 2022 that provides high-purity RNA products for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Its platform centers on custom RNA synthesis and an mRNA-focused purification system designed to reduce dsRNA, truncated RNA, and other contaminants.
Primary product
High-purity custom RNA and mRNA synthesis, including the SPECC mRNA platform
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Carlsbad, California, United States
Team size
1-10
Industry
Biotechnology Research
Sub-industry
RNA therapeutics / mRNA synthesis
Offices
6076 Corte Del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92011, United States
Business model
custom RNA synthesis
catalog RNA sales
quote-based B2B research reagent supply
Funding
Stage
seed
Total raised
$625K
Latest round
Seed Round · Dec 2022
Latest amount
$125K
Dec 2022
Sep 2022 · Y Combinator
People & investors
Leadership
Founder and CEO
Work & culture
Public materials present a science-first, researcher-focused culture centered on RNA purity, practical technical resources, and faster paths to high-quality RNA for biotech and academic users.
Product & market
Pricing
Mixed model: quote-based custom synthesis plus fixed-price catalog SKUs; order flow supports quote requests, purchase orders, and Net30 invoicing.
Differentiators
- —Near-HPLC-level purity claims for mRNA via SPECC
- —PRIME platform supports all RNA types, not just mRNA
- —Designed to reduce dsRNA, short-truncated RNA, long RNA, and DNA:RNA hybrids
- —Yields precise RNA lengths and consistent 3' ends
- —Yeast-based recombinant mRNA production and purification
- —Claims materially lower-cost mRNA manufacturing in grant-funded work
Technology
SPECC (SPEcific Capture and Cleavage)
PRIME RNA platform
yeast-engineered mRNA production
psychrophilic RNA polymerases
ribozymes
chemistry and enzymology
molecular engineering
tethering / blocking / capture methods
PCR-like DNA template amplification
Customers
RNA researchers
academic labs
biotech companies
pharma and therapeutic development teams
diagnostics researchers
Scale & contact
Estimated revenue
Less than $0.5M
Estimated monthly visits
969
Traffic estimate as of Aug 2024
Latest news
LinkedIn / Cisterna Biologics · Jul 2025
Company post announcing non-dilutive NIH NCATS SBIR Phase I support for SPECC platform development and validation.
LinkedIn / Cisterna Biologics · Jun 2025
Company post announcing NIH NIGMS STTR Phase I support to develop novel polymerases for high-quality RNA production with UT-Austin collaboration.
NIH RePORTER · Jun 2025
NIH project page documents a $350,000 award for Cisterna Biologics to develop psychrophilic RNA polymerases and SPECC-based purification to improve mRNA purity.
SBIR.gov · Aug 2024
NSF award page shows a $274,980 Phase I project to develop yeast-based mRNA production and purification.
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