As the global biotechnology sector works to extend the reach of life-saving mRNA vaccines, a persistent challenge remains: the carbon-intensive, logistically demanding ultracold supply chain. Atelerix’s CytoStor™ offers a compelling solution that could redefine how these vaccines are stored and distributed, especially in underserved regions.
mRNA Vaccines: A Breakthrough Technology Shaping the Future of Medicine
In the past five years, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology has rapidly progressed from experimental science to a cornerstone of global public health. The success of mRNA vaccines in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated their immense potential: fast to develop, highly effective, and adaptable to emerging threats. What began as an emergency response is now reshaping the future of vaccinology and therapeutic development.
Since 2020, mRNA technology has been further refined, with applications expanding into areas such as influenza, Zika virus, HIV, RSV, and even cancer immunotherapy. Major pharmaceutical companies and biotech innovators are investing heavily in the space, with the global mRNA therapeutics market projected to grow from $11.75 billion in 2023 to over $35 billion by the end of the decade (Market Research Future, 2023).
Despite these advances, a critical bottleneck remains: distribution. Unlike traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines are inherently unstable and require meticulous cold-chain management to maintain efficacy. The need for ultra-low temperature storage and dry ice shipping not only raises costs but limits accessibility in many parts of the world.
It is within this evolving landscape that Atelerix’s CytoStor™ platform emerges, not simply as a logistics solution, but as a key enabler of the next generation of mRNA therapeutics.
The Sustainability Challenge in Vaccine Logistics
Currently, mRNA vaccines such as those used during the COVID-19 pandemic must be transported and stored at extremely low temperatures, often using dry ice or specialist ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers. This infrastructure requirement restricts distribution to well-equipped regions and carries a significant environmental cost, with cold-chain logistics contributing to approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions (Evans, 2021).
The financial burden is equally substantial. In the UK, of the £2.9 billion spent on COVID-19 vaccines, £2.2 billion was allocated to distribution, and up to 30% of doses were wasted (Public Accounts Committee, 2023). Clearly, there is considerable room, and an urgent need for improvement.
CytoStor™: Enabling Refrigerated, Not Frozen, Distribution
Atelerix has developed CytoStor™, a preservation platform that facilitates the hypothermic (2–8°C) storage and distribution of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (LNP-mRNA) vaccines. Proof-of-concept data has demonstrated that CytoStor preserves the full potency of mRNA-LNPs for up to 30 days at these temperatures. By contrast, mRNA-LNPs stored in buffer alone saw a reduction in potency of approximately 50% (Atelerix, 2025) (Figure ai).
Further testing revealed that even after a freeze–thaw cycle, CytoStor-encapsulated mRNA-LNPs maintained efficacy when stored at 2–8°C for an additional 14 days (Atelerix, 2025) (Figure aii). This represents a major advance in simplifying vaccine storage and transportation.
Improving Access and Reducing Waste
Globally, up to 50% of vaccines are wasted, with Africa experiencing wastage rates as high as 30% (UNICEF, 2023). Removing ultracold requirements could increase access in 20–30% more countries, potentially reaching hundreds of millions more people (PATH, 2021; WHO, 2022).
CytoStor™ vs. Other Preservation Technologies
Lyophilisation (Freeze-Drying)
This technique enables room temperature storage and extended shelf life, but it is costly, energy-intensive, and not yet widely commercialised for mRNA applications (Chakraborty et al., 2021). It also requires reconstitution before use, increasing complexity for healthcare workers and raising the risk of dosage errors or contamination.
Sugar-Based Cryoprotectants
Substances such as trehalose and sucrose are widely used to stabilise vaccine components during freezing and thawing. However, they still require frozen storage, meaning the cold chain is still necessary (Kaufman et al., 2021).
LNP Structural Optimisation
Ongoing research is focused on engineering more stable RNA and lipid nanoparticle formulations, but most of these innovations are still in the experimental phase and not yet commercially viable (Hou et al., 2021).
Commercial Strategy and Path to Market
The development of CytoStor™ represents a major commercial opportunity not only for Atelerix but also for its future partners in the mRNA vaccine and biologics space. By addressing one of the most pressing logistical challenges in modern vaccine distribution, the reliance on ultracold storage, CytoStor opens new pathways to global markets, particularly in regions where infrastructure limitations have previously restricted access.
Atelerix’s strategy focuses on forming co-development partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies working on next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. These collaborations will leverage CytoStor’s unique capabilities to enhance product stability, extend shelf-life under refrigerated conditions, and simplify supply chains - key differentiators in an increasingly competitive field.
For partners, this offers the potential to accelerate development timelines, reduce manufacturing and distribution costs, and expand market reach, especially in low- and middle-income countries. For Atelerix, it represents a scalable opportunity to license a platform technology that supports multiple therapeutic indications across geographies.
As demand for mRNA-based therapeutics grows, CytoStor is well-positioned to serve as a pivotal enabler, supporting both the commercial success of partner programmes and the broader mission of improving global vaccine equity.
A Platform for Global Health Equity
By eliminating one of the main barriers to equitable vaccine access, namely, ultracold infrastructure, CytoStor represents not only a technological advance but a humanitarian opportunity. It could help global health systems reach more people, with fewer logistical hurdles, at lower cost, and with reduced environmental impact.
References
Market Research Future (2023) mRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market Report 2023–2030. [Online] Available at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/mrna-vaccines-therapeutics-market-10666 (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
Atelerix (2025) Internal data on CytoStor™ LNP-mRNA preservation. Atelerix Ltd. [Unpublished].
Chakraborty, C., Sharma, A.R., Bhattacharya, M. and Lee, S.S. (2021) ‘Development of COVID-19 vaccines: Challenges, risks, and future perspective’, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 20(11), pp. 779–780. doi:10.1038/s41573-021-00165-9.
Evans, S. (2021) ‘Why the ultra-cold storage of COVID-19 vaccines is a big challenge’, The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/why-the-ultra-cold-storage-of-covid-19-vaccines-is-a-big-challenge-151644 (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
Hou, X., Zaks, T., Langer, R. and Dong, Y. (2021) ‘Lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery’, Nature Reviews Materials, 6(12), pp. 1078–1094. doi:10.1038/s41578-021-00358-0.
Kaufman, D.R., et al. (2021) ‘Lipid nanoparticle-mRNA vaccines: Addressing key challenges’, Journal of Controlled Release, 330, pp. 1056–1066. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.01.020.
PATH (2021) Optimising vaccine supply chains for LMICs. Seattle: PATH. Available at: https://www.path.org/articles/optimizing-supply-chains-vaccine-delivery/ (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
Public Accounts Committee (2023) COVID-19 vaccines: UK procurement and distribution. UK Parliament. Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/41085/documents/199293/default/ (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
UNICEF (2023) Ensuring vaccine quality and safety. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/supply/ensuring-vaccine-quality-and-safety (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
WHO (2022) Global vaccine market report. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240066968 (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
