Donaldson and University of Pennsylvania collaborate to advance scalable gene therapy production
Through its Univercells Technologies division, Donaldson Company has announced an enhanced collaboration with the Gene Therapy Programme (GTP) at the University of Pennsylvania.
The expanded partnership will focus on evaluating the scalability of gene therapy production using cutting-edge bioreactors developed by Univercells Technologies. The pair are teaming up to advance the field of gene therapy and make treatments more accessible and cost-effective for patients worldwide.
Donaldson Company, Inc. is a provider of technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving diverse industries and advanced markets. Univercells Technologies, a division of Donaldson, specialises in developing advanced bioreactors designed to achieve cost-effective viral production from R&D to commercial scales.
The collaboration will evaluate the commercial-series scale-X nitro 600 m² bioreactor. The goal is to significantly boost production per batch while potentially lowering the cost of goods sold (COGS).
Mathias Garny, General Manager at Univercells Technologies, stated:
"We are honoured to extend our collaborative work with GTP in evaluating the scalability of gene therapy production.
Our mission aligns closely with GTP’s vision of making gene therapies more accessible globally, and we are committed to supporting their efforts with our innovative bioprocessing technologies."
The scale-X bioreactor was initially developed by Univercells Technologies with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Grand Challenge initiative. Originally designed to lower the cost of viral vaccine production, this bioreactor is now being applied to gene therapy to enhance the accessibility of viral vectors.
Dr James M. Wilson, Director of the Orphan Disease Centre and a professor at the Perelman School of Medicine, commented:
"Our hope is that Univercells Technologies will improve the efficiency of AAV vector manufacturing and help play a role in decreasing costs and enabling access through more affordable prices in the future."
