# Development of a charge detection mass spectrometer for the analysis ofgene therapy and other large pharmaceutical biologics

> **NIH NIH R44** · MEGADALTON SOLUTIONS, INC · 2021 · $397,898

## Abstract

Project Summary
Megadalton Solutions (Megadalton) is a startup company founded by Martin Jarrold and David Clemmer in
August 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Megadalton aims to commercialize charge detection mass spectrometry
(CDMS). This proposal describes a key step towards realizing this goal. We propose the construction of a
standalone CDMS instrument that will greatly expand a nascent fee-for-measurement business dedicated to
characterizing gene therapy products. Gene therapy provides the opportunity for a one-time cure to some of
the most devastating diseases. The first FDA approval for a gene therapy treatment was in 2017. Currently
there are more than 2,400 registered gene therapy clinical trials and so enormous growth is expected in the
next few years. In gene therapy, the genome is usually inserted into cells by a virus vector. The active agent
(the vector and its encapsulated genome) is large, 10-100 nm in diameter, and difficult to characterize. The
number of functional particles in a preparation is often small and shows significant lot-to-lot variability. It is
difficult to optimize a production process without good analytical tools to quickly characterize the product. Mass
spectrometry (MS) is one of the most powerful analytical tools used to characterize conventional
pharmaceuticals. However, commercial mass spectrometers have an upper mass limit of around a megadalton
(1 MDa = 1,000,000 Da where 1 Da is the mass of a hydrogen atom). This mass limit is much too low for gene
therapy products, where masses can be in the hundreds of megadaltons. CDMS is a single particle technique
where the m/z (mass to charge) ratio and charge are measured directly for individual ions. This allows MS
measurements to be extended beyond the current 1 MDa limit, and into the megadalton to gigadalton regime.
Proof of concept studies for adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy products show that CDMS can
characterize particle heterogeneity. In this case, empty particles, particles with the full genome, and particles
with a partial genome, were easily resolved. Megadalton is establishing a fee-for-measurement business to
support gene therapy product development. Contracts have been signed with a small number of pharmaceutical
companies to perform CDMS measurements on AAV vectors. In order to meet immediate demand, Megadalton
must expand measurement capacity. The proposed standalone instrument described in this proposal will allow
this expansion. As part of this project, we will develop new assays for AAV based gene therapy products and
assays will be developed for other vectors such as adenovirus. The standalone instrument will also serve as a
prototype that will be used to develop research-grade instruments for sales to expert MS users with interests
in CDMS. Sales of CDMS instruments is another key objective in our commercialization plan as it will allow
other scientists to explore problems that can be addressed by mass measurements in the megadalto...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10141266
- **Project number:** 5R44GM136095-02
- **Recipient organization:** MEGADALTON SOLUTIONS, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Benjamin E Draper
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $397,898
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10141266

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10141266, Development of a charge detection mass spectrometer for the analysis ofgene therapy and other large pharmaceutical biologics (5R44GM136095-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10141266. Licensed CC0.

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