UCB will use CEVEC’S adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector manufacturing technology platform to research, develop and produce AAV gene therapy products.

Under the terms of the agreement, CEVEC Pharmaceuticals will grant UCB the non-exclusive rights to its ELEVECTA technology to research, develop, and manufacture Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy applications.

The deal also provides UCB with the option to obtain licenses for use of the ELEVECTA producer cell lines in commercial production of potential AAV gene therapy candidates, and for ELEVECTA technology to create producer cell lines for transgenes selected by UCB.

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“The ELEVECTA technology is unique as it is based on fully stable producer cell lines, without the need for any helper viruses or large amounts of GMP-grade plasmids or transfection reagents. This enables scalability and high batch-to-batch consistency,” a spokesperson for CEVEC told BioProcess Insider.

According to CEVEC, ELEVECTA has been designed to overcome limitations associated with current manufacturing techniques and is fully compatible with standard processes and methods for analysis and purification.

“It is just one producer cell line with everything ‘on board’ to produce the AAV gene therapy vector of choice,” said CEVEC.

CEVEC did not disclose any financial agreement details but the firm is entitled to license fees, clinical and regulatory milestone payments, as well as royalties on potential future net sales.

“We are very proud that UCB, a highly regarded Pharma company, has chosen to work with us on the combination of our technology with their gene therapy programs,” CEVEC said.

Cevec did not divulge the length of time the collaboration is expected to run for.