International consortium aims to revolutionise viral vector manufacturing
A groundbreaking collaboration between leading biotechnology companies and research organisations in the UK and Canada has secured £1.1 million in funding to develop a next-generation cell platform for viral vector production. The project, led by VVector Bio and including the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Revvity, and Abselion, aims to address critical bottlenecks in the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies.
Overcoming production hurdles
Despite the immense potential of cell and gene therapies in treating a wide range of diseases, their widespread adoption has been hindered by manufacturing limitations. Current methods face significant challenges, including low yields, poor scalability, high costs, and quality testing issues. Traditional approaches have yielded minimal improvements, necessitating a fresh perspective on viral vector production.
The consortium’s multifaceted strategy centres on the genetic modification of the widely used HEK-293 cell line. Researchers will conduct a meticulous analysis of the cell line’s genome and transcriptome under producing and non-producing conditions to identify genes that directly impact viral vector yields and quality.
Innovative approach to manufacturing
Combining genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics with novel manufacturing techniques and on-line process analytics, the project seeks to disrupt existing viral vector production processes.
Alina Venereo Sanchez, CEO of VVector Bio, commented on the project’s potential: “This project represents a paradigm shift towards improving viral vector manufacturing yields. By integrating genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and new ways of directly integrating analytics into production, we’re poised to unlock unprecedented production capabilities.”
The collaboration builds upon the NRC’s expertise in biomanufacturing and viral vector production. Aziza Manceur at NRC emphasised: “Our past achievements underscore the feasibility of our approach, and we anticipate significant enhancements.”
Accelerating therapy development
The project’s focus on process optimisation through at-line and on-line analytics is expected to play a crucial role in redefining viral vector manufacturing. Ruizhi Wang, CEO of Abselion, noted: “This project is the ultimate opportunity to showcase how it can accelerate development and result in more efficient and robust production of the next generation of therapeutics.”
Dr Alan Fletcher, Revvity’s Senior Vice President of Life Sciences, highlighted the alignment between the consortium’s goals and their mission to overcome challenges in accelerating next-generation therapies. He said: “Together, we aim to drive innovation in the cell and gene manufacturing process, which will, in turn, help get life-changing therapies in the hands of patients that need them sooner.”
The collaboration is part of the “Canada-UK: Biomanufacturing of Biologics and Advanced Therapies” programme, jointly funded by Innovate UK and the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program. This initiative aims to stimulate the development and implementation of innovative technologies in biomanufacturing, potentially paving the way for more accessible and effective cell and gene therapies in the future.
