Strategic partnership creates a world leading CDMO offer to supply AAV-based viral vectors, an increasingly attractive therapeutic platform for gene therapy
Pompey and Lyon, France, January 13, 2016 – Novasep, a leading supplier of services and technologies for the life sciences industry, and Advanced Biotherapeutics Consulting (ABC), a service provider that leverages the expertise of the Nantes Gene Therapy Institute led by Philippe Moullier, MD, PhD, today announce they have entered into a CDMO (Contract Development Manufacturing Organization) partnership. This partnership enables the companies to provide their respective customers with the full range of services relating to Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) viral vector production.
Whilst still at the proof-of-concept stage, AAV vector-based drugs have shown promising results in several gene therapy clinical trials. AAV vectors feature several key advantages over other vectors; they are seen as the technology of choice in upcoming years for treating serious genetic disorders.
Novasep’s ambition is to build and offer an AAV excellence platform to the gene therapy market. The partnership with ABC provides Novasep customers with access to expert early-stage drug development services; this complements Novasep’s existing capacity in AAV vector development and production. For ABC, the deal is a means to further support its customers after early-stage development, when production is scaling up.
For AAV drug developers, this partnership will facilitate the technology transfer from one partner to the other and therefore simplify and accelerate the development phase for joint customers.
“We are very proud to see the partnership sealed with the renowned Nantes team through ABC,” said Alain Lamproye, president of the Biopharma BU. “AAV-based drugs have very specific features and their development requires a very large set of expertise. Novasep and ABC decided to team up as both teams have complementary skills that perfectly fit with AAV-based drug developer needs.”
“Novasep first came to our attention following its selection by pharmaceutical companies to support large scale manufacturing of biotherapeutics. Partnering with Novasep is an incredible opportunity for ABC. It expands our internal expertise in process development and analytics, where we already receive support from a national ‘investment for the future’ grant awarded in 2011,” said Philippe Moullier.
Novasep brings its industrial process design, clinical and commercial manufacturing track record. ABC is skilled in viral vector design, process and analytical method developments, and early-stage production.
Novasep has provided services for viral vector production to many drug developers for 15 years, which has established it as a world leading viral vector CMO.
About Advanced Biotherapeutics Consulting
Advanced Biotherapeutics Consulting (ABC) is a translational accelerator that de-risks gene therapy programs with therapeutic potential. The expertise of ABC covers all steps of gene-based drug development for translating an early stage preclinical project to a clinical trial and beyond, particularly in the field of genetic diseases.
ABC areas of expertise are preclinical proof-of-concept, regulatory toxicology studies, viral vector manufacturing and quality control, and regulatory strategies to meet EMA requirements.
It relies on the Nantes Gene Therapy Institute headed by Philippe Moullier, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized expert.
About Novasep
Novasep is a global provider of cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing solutions for life sciences molecules and fine chemicals. Novasep’s unique offering includes process development services, purification equipment and turnkey processes, contract manufacturing services and complex active molecules to serve pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, fine chemical, food and functional ingredients as well as fermentation and chemical commodities industries.
