Intelligene Inc., a biotechnology company focused on innovative RNA-based therapeutics, and Australia’s Kirby Institute officially signed a partnership agreement under the BRIDGE (Bringing RNA Innovations through the Developmental Gap Effectively) Program on February 7th, 2025.
The BRIDGE program is coordinated by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, and works within the RNA ecosystem developed by the NSW Government in Australia through both the Office for Health and Medical Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer.
This collaboration will focus on the advancement of Intelligene’s development of IG-001, an RNA-based therapeutic for COVID-19, and the acceleration of the company’s clinical trials and commercialization. This partnership provides an opportunity to strengthen Intelligene's position in the RNA drug sector and to enhance Australia’s competitive standing in the global RNA market.
Intelligene will receive support from the BRIDGE Program, which has secured $5 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund to build RNA infrastructure and advance RNA-based treatments. Over the next three years, Intelligene will benefit from expert advice, access to a network of specialist consultants and other resources to support its drug development efforts.
The BRIDGE program will offer expert consultation and technical support, providing guidance on clinical trial planning, manufacturing, and regulatory strategies to jointly advance the development of the selected candidate towards clinical trials. These resources will play a key role in speeding up the development of IG-001, with Phase 1 clinical trials scheduled to begin later this year.
The BRIDGE program is an academic-industry partnership that brings together the Kirby and RNA Institutes at UNSW, Medicines Development for Global Health, Scientia Clinical Research, the Garvan Institute for Medical Research, along with community representatives on the Clinical Advisory Committee and government representatives from the Office for Health and Medical Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer. The program is designed to accelerate the development of innovative mRNA vaccines and RNA-based therapies to address COVID-19 and other infectious disease global health challenges. It offers comprehensive support across the spectrum of pre-clinical drug development through expertise in clinical trials and commercialization, ensuring the successful advancement of promising new therapies.
Intelligene’s Chairman & CEO, Jerry Huang, stated, “We are honored to be the first company selected for the BRIDGE Program, which highlights the strength of our innovative RNA-based therapeutics technology and the expertise of our team. We look forward to collaborating with the Kirby Institute and other BRIDGE partners to jointly bring the best research outcomes to the world and help address global health challenges.”
Patty Sung, President & COO of Intelligene, added, “The Kirby Institute’s world-class research and extensive clinical expertise are internationally recognized. Through this partnership with BRIDGE, we will gain access to invaluable resources and are confident that our RNA drug development platform will lead to significant breakthroughs in infectious disease treatments.”
Professor Anthony Kelleher from the Kirby Institute stated, “We're excited to collaborate with Intelligene and look forward to the success of IG-001 in combating COVID-19, bringing this important therapeutic to the global market.”
Dr Minal Dalvi, Chief Operations Officer for the BRIDGE program, commented, “We anticipate that this collaboration will drive progress in an underserved area of drug development in Australia, helping to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and real-world therapeutic solutions. RNA-based treatments, particularly treatments using small RNA molecules, have immense potential to target diseases with precision, opening new possibilities for conditions that currently lack effective treatment options. By combining BRIDGE’s expert network and Intelligene’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to accelerate the development of this promising approach and pave the way for broader applications in RNA therapeutics.”
Phase 1 clinical trials for IG-001 are scheduled to begin this year. Leveraging Australia's financial and tax incentives for clinical trials, along with its expedited application process, Intelligene plans to conduct these trials in Australia to maximize funding benefits and accelerate the development timeline. The company is also preparing for an IPO and plans to list on the Taipei Emerging Stock Market (TPEx) in the first half of this year, marking a key milestone in its growth.