The importance of genetic delivery in drug discovery
Modern drug discovery relies on the ability to manipulate cellular systems, validate therapeutic targets and develop advanced disease models. From functional genomics and cell engineering to gene therapy development, efficient genetic delivery is essential at every stage. Mirus Bio has established itself as a trusted provider of transfection and viral vector production technologies that help researchers streamline these workflows and generate more reliable results.
TransIT® transfection reagents for cell engineering, CRISPR and target validation
The TransIT® family of transfection reagents forms the foundation of the Mirus Bio portfolio. Designed to deliver nucleic acids efficiently into mammalian cells, these reagents support a broad range of applications, including transient protein expression, stable cell line generation and genome editing.
Figure 1. Suspension (A) or adherent cells (B) were transfected with pAAV-hrGFP, pAAV-RC, and pAAV-Helper (1:1:1 ratio) with the following reagents: TransIT-VirusGEN (2:1, vol:wt), Lipofectamine® 2000 (3:1), Lipofectamine® 3000 (3:3:1) or 25 kDa PEI (4:1). Harvested virus was used to transduce HT1080 cells and GFP expression was measured 48 hours post-transduction using guava easyCyte™ 5HT flow cytometer. Functional titers were measured from virus dilutions with less than 20% GFP positive cells. The error bars represent the standard deviation of triplicate wells.
For drug discovery researchers, effective transfection is critical for target validation and functional genomics studies. The ability to overexpress or edit genes allows scientists to investigate disease pathways and identify potential therapeutic targets with greater confidence. High transfection efficiency can also improve the success of CRISPR workflows, helping researchers generate modified cell models more rapidly and reproducibly.
In addition, TransIT® reagents are widely used in cell engineering projects, where the development of reliable cellular models is essential for assay development, screening and preclinical research. By combining strong delivery performance with high cell viability, these reagents help researchers obtain robust data whilst reducing experimental variability.
From cell engineering to viral vector manufacturing
As therapeutic programmes advance, genetic delivery requirements often extend beyond cell engineering into viral vector production. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has become one of the most widely used gene delivery vehicles due to its favourable safety profile and proven utility in gene therapy applications.
However, producing AAV vectors at the yields and quality required for research and development presents significant challenges. Researchers must balance vector productivity, scalability, process consistency and manufacturing costs, all whilst maintaining stringent quality standards.
Recognising these demands, Mirus Bio has expanded its portfolio beyond traditional transfection reagents to include specialised solutions for viral vector production.
VirusGEN® and the evolution of scalable viral vector production
VirusGEN® was developed specifically to support viral vector manufacturing in suspension HEK293 cultures. Optimised for scalability and reproducibility, it provides an efficient transfection solution for researchers producing AAV and lentiviral vectors during process development and preclinical programmes.
The platform became even more powerful with the introduction of the RevIT™ AAV Enhancer. Designed to increase AAV productivity across multiple serotypes and production systems, RevIT™ enables researchers to achieve higher vector yields without extensive process redevelopment.
Together, VirusGEN® and RevIT™ helped address one of the key bottlenecks in gene therapy development: producing sufficient quantities of high-quality viral vectors efficiently and cost-effectively. This combination remains a valuable solution for laboratories seeking dependable and scalable vector production workflows.
The AAViator™ platform: next-generation AAV production
Building on its expertise in viral vector manufacturing, Mirus Bio recently introduced the AAViator™ Platform, a dedicated solution developed specifically for high-yield AAV production.
The platform combines three complementary technologies:
- TransIT®-AAViator™ Transfection Reagent
- RevIT™ AAV Enhancer
- AAViator™ Transfection Complex Stabiliser
The addition of the AAViator™ Stabiliser provides greater flexibility during manufacturing by extending transfection complex stability and supporting more consistent process execution. The platform has also been developed to reduce plasmid DNA requirements and improve the proportion of full capsids, helping researchers address both productivity and quality challenges simultaneously.
For organisations advancing gene therapy programmes, these improvements can translate into increased manufacturing efficiency, lower material costs and accelerated development timelines.
Conclusion
From early-stage target validation to large-scale viral vector production, efficient genetic delivery remains a critical component of modern drug discovery. Mirus Bio supports these workflows through a comprehensive portfolio that spans both cell engineering and gene therapy applications.
TransIT® transfection reagents enable reliable gene delivery for CRISPR, functional genomics and cell model development, whilst VirusGEN® and RevIT™ support scalable viral vector manufacturing. For researchers pursuing next-generation gene therapies, the AAViator™ Platform represents Mirus Bio's latest advancement, providing a purpose-built solution for high-yield, high-quality AAV production.
By helping scientists optimise genetic delivery at every stage of development, Mirus Bio continues to support faster, more efficient paths from discovery to therapeutic innovation.
Find out more and try Mirus Bio's solutions
Find out more about optimising AAV production in this upcoming webinar, a case study on improving AAV2 and AAV9 titers & percent full capsids while reducing production costs
Contact our Mirus Bio specialists today or request a TransIT ViruGEN® sample to advance your drug discovery research.