£4.8m Viral Vector Supply Chain Collaboration Completed

The successful completion of an 18month project between contract development and manufacturing organisation Cobra Biologics and CMO Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services, has seen a significant increase in both companies’ existing commercial capacity and simplification of the supply chain process for manufacture of viral vectors for use in gene therapy and immunotherapy.

Intended to accelerate the clinical and commercial production of viral vectors, which represent part of the burgeoning Advanced Therapeutics Medicinal Product (ATMP) drug development space and the frontier of personalised medicine, the joint collaboration had a combined investment of £4.8m including significant support from a grant received under the UK Governments’ Innovate UK Health and Life Sciences Programme.

Peter Coleman, Chief Executive at Cobra Biologics, said: “The Innovate UK grant has enabled Cobra and Symbiosis to form a close partnership to provide a seamless viral vector service to the global community for both clinical and commercial supply.  In conjunction with Symbiosis, we have now helped to establish the UK as world leader in this exciting field.”

Colin MacKay, Chief Executive of Symbiosis, added: “The strategic focus of Innovate UK in proactively supporting the development of a supply chain which aligns multiple service providers – such as Symbiosis and Cobra - to specifically enhance their joint means to facilitate the development of viral vectors and other ATMPs here in the UK is not only astute but will generate tangible value which will benefit the UK, the CDMOs receiving grants alongside their respective clients, and ultimately the patients most in need of those innovative medicines.

“The relationship that Symbiosis and Cobra have forged during this grant collaboration project represents an excellent foundation for both companies to strengthen their aligned ability to develop world class personalised medicines more quickly for shared clients from around the world.”