Penn Announces Gene Therapy Collaboration with WuXi

The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) announced on June 15, 2015 that it had entered into a manufacturing collaboration with WuXi AppTec. The collaboration was developed to combine Penn’s viral vector production with the knowledge of manufacturing and infrastructure from WuXi. Penn will work with WuXi on manufacturing processes within cGMP guidelines for the production of viral vectors in WuXi’s 145,000-square-foot-facility at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, PA.

The Gene Therapy Program at Penn researches gene therapies to develop gene vectors derived from recombinant viruses, with a focus on developing new adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, as well as adenovirus and lentivirus research. According to a press release, the “current clinical focus is in the area of orphan and infectious diseases,” and collaboration with academic and biopharmaceutical partners helps with clinical translation of the research.

“Advances in the technology of gene transfer developed at the University of Pennsylvania have ushered in an era of exciting translational research in gene therapy. A critical step toward successful commercialization of these products is the development of processes and analytics for scalable production of vectors. The opportunity for Penn to partner with WuXi AppTec, Inc in the commercial production of gene-therapy vectors will greatly accelerate their development as products and access to patients,” said James M. Wilson MD, PhD, professor and director of the Gene Therapy Program and the Orphan Disease Center at the Perelman School of Medicine, in a press release.

Earlier in the month, REGENXBIO announced that it would partner with WuXi to manufacture AAV gene therapy treatments. The press release mentions the Penn labratory run by Wilson helping to facilitate a successful collaboration in the development of viral vectors.

Source: University of Pennsylvania