Roche in Agreement to Use CEVEC’s ELEVECTA Technology for AAV Manufacture

Roche has signed an option and license agreement with CEVEC Pharmaceuticals to use CEVEC’s recently launched ELEVECTA technology for the large-scale manufacture of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy applications. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, CEVEC will grant Roche and Spark Therapeutics, a member of the Roche Group, an option for a non-exclusive license to develop AAV producer cell lines based on the ELEVECTA technology. Roche will have the rights to use the technology for its portfolio of gene therapy products while CEVEC will be eligible for payments based on the achievement of certain milestones for products as well as royalties on sales of potential products using the technology, according to a Nov. 10, 2020 press release.

“We are delighted to partner with Roche with the goal to manufacture AAV vector-based gene therapy programs on a large scale by leveraging our novel ELEVECTA Technology. This agreement represents a major milestone while highlighting ELEVECTA as the technology of choice for next generation viral vector manufacturing,” said Dr. Nicole Faust, CEO of CEVEC, in the company press release. “Given the enormous progress of gene therapies, manufacturing technologies must keep up with the needs of the industry in terms of volumes, quality, robustness, and ease of use. With ELEVECTA we are paving the way for many more commercial gene therapy applications in the future.”

“Across the Roche Group, we are always looking for new and innovative technologies that provide clear competitive advantages and add significant value to our portfolio,” said James Sabry, head of Roche Pharma Partnering, in the press release. “We are excited to use CEVEC’s ELEVECTA Technology for potential large-scale production of gene therapies and providing them to patients in need.”

Source: CEVEC Pharmaceuticals