MilliporeSigma Launches Lentiviral Production Platform for Cell and Gene Therapies

MilliporeSigma has launched its VirusExpress lentiviral production platform, bolstering its viral vector manufacturing capabilities. This new platform helps overcome lentiviral production challenges and can additionally reduce process development time by approximately 40%, the company announced in an Oct. 13, 2020 press release.

The platform uses a suspension cell line rather than an adherent-based production system and is coupled with a chemically defined cell culture media and a process that has built-in scalability. Using a suspension cell culture format can accelerate process development. It also allows for higher yields from each batch of virus, resulting in more patient doses. The suspension culture format is also easier to scale up while being less labor-intensive. Furthermore, the chemically defined medium eliminates the safety, regulatory, and supply chain concerns related to animal- and human-derived materials.

The platform offers a simplified upstream workflow by making processes easier to manage, adjust, and scale. In addition, flexible licensing allows companies to manufacture vectors by using either MilliporeSigma’s contract manufacturing capabilities, a third-party contract development and manufacturing organization, or in-house development.

“Cell and gene therapies offer the potential for curative treatments and are being developed and commercialized in half the time it has taken traditional therapies,” said Angela Myers, head of Gene Editing & Novel Modalities at MilliporeSigma, in a company press release. “We are committed to accelerating manufacturing of cell and gene therapies with the ultimate goal of getting these lifesaving treatments to patients faster. By increasing dose yields and dramatically reducing process development time, this new platform will help us reach this goal.”

Source: MilliporeSigma