ConserV Bioscience has been awarded £415,000 ($556,000) by UK Aid funding to drive development of a coronavirus vaccine immune to variants, UNICOR-v. The firm claims UNICOR-v could possibly protect people against future epidemics caused by a coronavirus spreading from animals to human, as well as new variants that could emerge from SARS-Cov-2 without needing a frequent booster. UNICOR-v consists of twelve antigens from conserved regions, which includes clusters of reactive T-cell epitopes for various human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). It aims…

Revenue from Charles River Laboratories’ manufacturing business increased significantly in 2021 thanks to increased demand and the positive impact of acquisitions. Charles River Laboratories’ (CRL’s) revenue for 2021 increased 21.1% to $3.54 billion. Its discovery and safety assessment unit made the biggest contribution, bringing in $2.11 billion which is 14.7% more than in 2020. Revenue from research models and services climbed 20.9% to $690.4 million. However, in terms of growth, CRL’s manufacturing and related services business gained the most ground.…

Chinese drugmaker General Biol has chosen Cytiva’s single-use Flex-Factory platform to support oligonucleotide production. The deal, of which financial details have not been disclosed, sees Cytiva provide General Biol with its integrated FlexFactory single-use  platform. This includes an OligoProcess nucleic acid synthesis system, ÄKTA Process explosion-proof purification system, and a Uniflux explosion-proof tangential flow ultrafiltration system. “A FlexFactory is a biomanufacturing platform that supports different types of manufacturing processes,” a spokesperson for Cytiva told us. “It is configurable with respect…

Carsgen Therapeutics’ new facility in North Carolina is poised to begin making candidate CAR-T cell therapies for trials after passed an inspection. The facility in Research Triangle Park (RTP) – which official opened this week – was issued with a certificate of compliance after being visited from inspectors from Durham city council. Company president Richard Daly welcomed the decision as an important expansion of Carsgen’s manufacturing network. “RTP manufacturing facility plus two Carsgen existing GMP facilities in Shanghai, China will enhance our…

Moderna is reportedly eyeing up the UK as its next location for an mRNA manufacturing and research facility. Moderna has already laid down plans for messenger RNA (mRNA) manufacturing facilities in Australia, Canada and Africa. Now, the Financial Times (FT) has reported that the US firm, which sprang to the forefront of biopharma on the back of the success of its COVID-19 vaccine, is in “late discussions” with the UK government to build a plant and collaborate with the NHS…

Through the construction of a $700 million site in the Boston Seaport area, Eli Lilly aims to advance RNA based therapeutics. The facility, which will be known as the Lilly Institute for Genetic Medicine is part of the firm’s strategy to develop RNA based therapeutics using DNA-based technologies that can treat or prevent diseases that is difficult or not possible with traditional medicines. “The Institute will pair cutting-edge technologies with Lilly’s deep biological expertise in neuroscience, immunology, diabetes, and other…

Ori Biotech says its paperless platform eliminates waste and reduce costs, which could potentially improve patient access to cell therapies. The London-based firm Ori Biotech formed in 2019 with a main goal of enabling extensive patient access for CGT therapies through its scalable bioreactor and fluid handling platform, which hopes to to automate, digitize, and standardize CGT production. The platform remains in stealth mode. However, this has not put off investors who backed the company’s $100 million Series B funding…

BioNTech has introduced a container solution for its mRNA manufacturing strategy to improve vaccine supply in Africa. The German biotech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rwandan government and Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal in October 2021 to start building a messenger RNA (mRNA) plant this summer. This week, in what the firm dubbed a “high-level” meeting at its Marburg, Germany facility, BioNTech presented a container solution named BioNTainer to various key partners. A BioNTainer is a…

Catalent could potentially invest $350 million to expand its Bloomington, Indiana plant adding 1000 jobs at the site by 2026. According to various publications, including B Square Bulletin, contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) Catalent is looking to spend $350 million at its Bloomington, Indiana facility with the City of Bloomington supposedly offering the firm millions of dollars in tax breaks. The city council is said to have unanimously voted in favour of the tax breaks this Wednesday, but a further…