Recombinant AAV-based vectors are used to develop gene therapies, as well as holding the potential to treat certain neurological and neuromuscular diseases as well as other conditions across multiple therapeutic areas.
However, manufacturing is currently time-consuming and expensive making it difficult to develop therapies for diseases requiring high doses or across larger patient populations.
Neuroscience biotech Biogen will receive access to Ginkgo’s proprietary mammalian cell programming platform and capabilities, aiming to improve efficacy of AAV-producing plasmid vectors and cell lines. Boston-headquartered Ginkgo will utilize its bioengineering facilities and resources with the aim of enhancing the AAV production titers of Biogen’s gene therapy manufacturing processes.
Ginkgo's synthetic biology expertise may enable the expansion of therapeutic utility and overcome development challenges of viral vectors for gene therapy, according to the companies.
Ginkgo will receive an upfront payment of $5m, with the potential for certain research, development and commercial milestone payments of up to $115m to follow.
In March, Biogen also announced plans for a new gene therapy manufacturing facility in North Carolina to support the advancement of its gene therapy pipeline across multiple therapeutic areas.