Why Phosphoramidite Impurity Standards Are Non-Negotiable for Oligonucleotide Therapeutic Safety
Webinar
Phosphoramidite chemistry remains the cornerstone of solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis, and the purity of the nucleoside phosphoramidite monomers used is critical to the safety and efficacy of the resulting therapeutic or diagnostic products. As regulatory frameworks, most notably the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), increasingly define critical and reactive impurities for oligonucleotide starting materials, the demand for well-characterized, analytical reference standards has grown substantially, with the goal to confirm purity of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
During the webinar, you will:
- Discover the analytical challenges in characterizing nucleoside phosphoramidite impurity standards and how they impact oligonucleotide API purity assessment.
- Understand the rationale for selecting specific impurity targets and the criteria for fit-for-purpose analytical reference standards.
- Explore proper handling, storage, and certification considerations to maintain RM integrity and traceability.
- Learn how this reference materials support regulatory expectations (e.g., USP) and quality control in the oligonucleotide therapeutics industry.
Speakers

Jonas Wenzel
M.Sc. Scientist R&D, Reference Materials – Pharma, Extractables & Leachables, Environment
Jonas Wenzel is a Scientist in R&D at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, based at the Buchs, Switzerland site, where he is responsible for the synthesis of novel reference materials across the fields of Pharmaceuticals, Extractables & Leachables, and Environmental analysis. He joined Merck in February 2023 and works closely with Quality Control and Product Management teams to develop and advance the reference materials portfolio.
Jonas holds a Master of Science in Chemistry from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), during which he completed an international exchange semester at Imperial College London. He subsequently participated in a doctoral research program in the group of Prof. Andreas Hirsch at FAU, where his work focused on advanced organic synthesis of hexabenzocoronenes.
Analytical chemistry
- Analytical chemistry
Duration:1h
Language:English
Session 1:Thu, October 29, 2026 3:00 PM CEST