Hyderabad-Based PopVax Launches RNA Foundry to Develop Personalised Cancer Vaccines
Hyderabad-based biotechnology startup PopVax is developing AI-designed personalised cancer vaccines using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Founded by Soham Sankaran in 2021, the company has launched the RNA Foundry, an integrated research, development and manufacturing facility in collaboration with Stochastic Sciences. Its approach uses tumour sequencing data and machine learning to identify potential cancer-specific targets and design vaccine candidates tailored to individual patients.
The facility combines mRNA technology, lipid nanoparticle delivery systems and in-house manufacturing capabilities to advance personalised RNA medicines. PopVax aims to develop more than 100 personalised cancer-vaccine candidates over the next 12 months, focusing on cancers with poor survival outcomes. These candidates remain experimental and have not yet been administered to patients; separate clinical trials will be needed to establish their safety and effectiveness.
