Pioneering technology to increase effectiveness of gene therapeutics
A collaboration between the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and Synpromics set out to develop novel scalable manufacturing processes and technologies to produce viral vectors at scale.
We believe Synpromics’ technology will provide a critically needed solution to high titre, industrial scale, vector manufacture, a critical barrier in the gene therapy industry. The result of this solution will be a major advance to the commercialisation of gene therapies
Bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation
Scotland based SME Synpromics, is a market leader in the development of synthetic DNA sequences for gene control, a technology which allows for genes to be switched on and off. A collaboration between the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and Synpromics set out to develop novel scalable manufacturing processes and technologies to produce viral vectors at scale.
Viral vectors are tools commonly used by molecular biologists to deliver genetic material into cells. They are a critical component in the development of many cell and gene therapies and have been employed for the treatment of various diseases such as cardiovascular, muscular, hematologic, ophthalmologic, and infectious diseases and different types of cancer.
A lack of solutions for the large-scale manufacture of viral vectors together with their high cost, are well-recognised barriers to the growth of the cell and gene therapy industry globally.
Increasing the productivity and reducing cost of viral vector manufacture would create significant benefits to the wider cell and gene therapy industry as well as research institutes and ultimately for patients.
The infrastructure and expertise within the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult was pivotal to developing new novel analytical assays for adeno-associated viral vectors and lentiviral vector manufacture. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult was able to help demonstrate Synpromics as an exemplar in viral vector manufacturing processes which led to their acquisition by AskBio in August 2019 to expand their gene therapy technology portfolio.
Enhancing Synpromics’ capabilities for qualifying cell lines to produce viral vectors, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult helped to consolidate the company’s position as an industry leader. Synpromics now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary and is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. The combined expertise of Synpromics and AskBio will better enable them to develop potentially life-changing cell and gene therapies for diseases with an unmet medical need.