PackGene and KudoBio team on mRNA CDMO services

CDMOs PackGene and KudoBio have come together to address the increased demand for customized mRNA manufacturing.

Under terms of the deal announced at BWB 2023 this week, PackGene will provide process development and manufacturing services for plasmid DNA (pDNA) and cell banking, while Kudo Bio will provide process development, analytical development, and manufacturing of mRNA and LNP, as well as fill and finish.

“The collaboration is driven by a mutual desire to address the increasing demand for high-quality, customized mRNA manufacturing services and to provide clients with a comprehensive and efficient solution for mRNA drug and vaccine development while maintaining the highest standards of quality and compliance,” Irene Song, PackGene senior director of Global Products, told BioProcess Insider.

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“With PackGene’s GMP plasmid capability and Kudo Bio’s GMP mRNA, LNP capability, both companies set their sights on providing comprehensive end-to-end mRNA development and manufacturing services, emphasizing timeliness, quality, and compliance. This approach aims to create a streamlined workflow that supports mRNA drug discovery with both expertise and convenience.”

There are no specific financial terms of the deal between PackGene and Kudo, Song said. “PackGene will contribute to the GMP plasmid production part, while anything downstream will be taken care of by Kudo. There is no detailed term, such as the percentage of share, revenue, profit, etc.”

PackGene, which describes itself as both a contract research organization (CRO) and a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), is headquartered in Guangzhou, China but has entities in both the US and Europe. Earlier this year, the firm broke ground on a 25,000 square-foot expansion in Houston, Texas to support demand for adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector development and manufacturing services.

Concurrently, PackGene told us it has obtained an undisclosed C-series funding aimed at supporting the expansion of production line, facilities, and teams for AAV and plasmid manufacturing.

Furthermore, Song hinted “it is likely there will be a future, more formal agreement of some kind” between PackGene and KudoBio, though “details are still in discussions.”