Author Archives: Millie Nelson

Autolomous and Vineti partner to deliver end-to-end solutions in CGT space

Autolomous will combine its manufacturing management systems with Vineti’s Personalized Therapy Management (PTM) platform to form an end-to-end cell and gene therapy pathway. The partnership between Autolomous and Vineti, two technology solution providers for cell and gene therapy (CGT) supply chains, aims to drive the visibility and exchange of information between stakeholders across the CGT value chain to ensure the companies can respond to unpredictable variables that occur with biological processes. According to Autolomous, the integration of the technologies will…

Catalent shells out $230m to expand US gene therapy plant

Catalent will add three additional commercial-scale viral vector manufacturing suites at its gene therapy campus in Harmans, Maryland. The latest investment at contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) Catalent’s Harmans campus includes the construction of three additional multi-room commercial suites, as well as expanding storage capabilities for ultra-low temperature freezers, just-in-time inventory space,  and its water-for-injection infrastructure. “This latest expansion is to meet growing customer demand and is in anticipation of continued interest and growth in AAV and other gene therapies,”…

BioNTech eyes mid-2022 to build mRNA facility in Africa

BioNTech has struck a deal with Rwanda and Senegal to begin building a mRNA vaccine production plant in Africa next year. The decision to start building a messenger RNA (mRNA) plant next summer comes after the German biotech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rwandan government and Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal this week. The firm had previously expressed the possibility of setting up mRNA manufacturing facilities on its own, or with partners in Africa and according…

EnteroBiotix completes Scottish microbial facility

The mechanically complete facility in Strathclyde, Scotland will establish EnteroBiotix’s pipeline and provide end-to-end control of the supply chain, says firm. EnteroBiotix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing microbial therapeutics, which aim to treat debilitating diseases and infections associated with the function and structure of the gut microbiome. The mechanical completion of its purpose-built manufacturing donor-derived microbial therapeutic plant at Strathclyde Business Park, Scotland spans over 20,000 square feet and includes expansion of its corporate offices to support an…

Two in Toulouse for GTP Bioways

CDMO GTP Bioways has invested $14 million into two biopharmaceutical production lines at its site in Toulouse, France. The French contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO), which specializes in the production of nanotherapies and biotherapies has said the first line will be dedicated to production using microbial systems such as bacteria and yeast. The first line will have a capacity of 300 L and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2023. The second manufacturing unit has been…

Q3: Sartorius says lean manufacturing drives margins

Sartorius says its focus on lean manufacturing and creating additional capacity has pushed its margins up, but increased headcount will have an impact going forward. For the first nine months of 2021, German life sciences firm Sartorius reported group sales revenue of €2.6 billion ($3 billion), an increase of 50.4% year-on-year. The firm highlighted strong demand for its bioprocessing services and consumables as a major factor in this growth, with the division contributing almost €2 billon to the top line.…

NorthX Biologics takes over Charles River Swedish plant

NorthX Biologics will take over Charles River’s manufacturing facility in Matfors, Sweden through $52 million acquisition. Seven months on from Charles River Laboratories $875 million acquisition of Cognate Bio (Cognate acquired Cobra Biologics in November 2019) the firm has offloaded one of its Cognate assets, selling a plant in Matfors, Sweden to private investor group Flerie Invest in an acquisition worth $52 million. The entity has been named North X Biologics and the 7,000 square-meter facility houses process development and…

Joint research agreement to develop viral vector tech, says Matica Bio

Matica Bio and Sartorius have entered a joint research agreement to develop advanced viral vector manufacturing technology. Matica Biotechnology, a contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) that specializes in the clinical and commercial production of cell and gene therapies (CGTs), will work on various studies with German life sciences firm Sartorius to streamline and optimize PAT technologies, automation software, and single-use platforms offered by Sartorius for large scale vector production. According to Matica, together both companies will tackle the challenges associated…

Hansoh goes for GOLD in siRNA partnership

Hansoh Pharma will use Silence Therapeutics’ mRNAi GOLD platform to develop three undisclosed short interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs). According to RNA interference biotech company Silence, its mRNAi GOLD platform is  “designed to accurately target and ‘silence’ specific disease-associated genes in liver cells by using the body’s natural process of RNA interference (RNAi).” Under the terms of the agreement, Hansoh will have the exclusive option to license rights to two targets in Hong Kong, Greater China, Macau, and Taiwan following Phase…

ISCT partners to provide ‘urgent’ training programs for CGT workforce

The International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have partnered to provide training to upskill personnel. Led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the global collaboration between ISCT and NSF’s Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) aims to bridge the critical skills gap in the cell and gene therapy (CGT) industry by delivering educational programs. The joint-training program entitled ‘‘Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing – A Global Partnership with ISCT and CMaT”,…