Amplitude Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) medicines and vaccines, announced on Wednesday a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) to discover and develop taRNA vaccine candidates for infectious diseases.

The collaboration will initially focus on undisclosed infectious disease vaccine programmes with high unmet need, with Lilly retaining the option to add up to two additional infectious disease targets.

Amplitude's taRNA approach is designed to separate the replicase and antigen-encoding RNA components, enabling flexible antigen design, formulation tuning, and dose optimisation across vaccine programmes. Compared with other RNA modalities, taRNA may enable enhanced potency, lower doses, and improved manufacturability.

Under the agreement, Lilly will receive exclusive, target-specific rights to develop and commercialise licensed products directed to the collaboration targets. Amplitude will lead taRNA optimisation and selected preclinical research activities under agreed research plans, with Lilly responsible for additional preclinical development, clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory activities and commercialisation.