VectorBuilder – a global leader in vector design, optimization and GMP manufacturing – has formed a worldwide strategic partnership with Univercells Technologies, a provider of novel biomanufacturing technologies for flexible and scalable viral vector production.

VectorBuilder’s manufacturing center in Guangzhou, China, will work with Univercells Technologies to develop and optimize platform processes for the production of custom viral vectors for cell and gene therapies, as well as vaccine applications.

Rapid advances in cell and gene therapy in recent years, as well as the intense interest in recombinant viral vaccines brought on by COVID-19, has significantly increased the demand for custom viral vectors, especially GMP-grade vectors. Traditional manufacturing technologies lack the cost-effectiveness and scalability to accommodate this growing demand, so this new partnership – combining both companies’ capabilities, services and existing technologies – aims to develop a portfolio of optimized viral vector manufacturing protocols to help maximize customers’ performance and commercial success.

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Univercells Technologies to co-develop optimized, scalable and customizable solutions for fast and affordable production of viral vectors. This partnership is an important step in VectorBuilder’s ambition to become a global leader in high performance, commercial-scale biomanufacturing,” said Dr Jason Ye, Vice President of Biomanufacturing at VectorBuilder.

“We are very excited to partner with VectorBuilder, a global pioneer in custom viral vector manufacturing,” added Mathias Garny, CEO of Univercells Technologies. “Our combined expertise and knowhow will help us to maximize the benefits of our manufacturing technologies, offering unparalleled solutions for integrated, continuous manufacture to our customers.”

Univercells Technologies’ scale-X™ bioreactors portfolio and the NevoLine™ Upstream platform both offer high-performing production capacities while drastically reducing footprint and costs. The scale-X hydro (2.4 m2) and carbo (10 and 30 m2) bioreactors are a great asset for accelerating process development and supporting clinical validation. These systems are complemented by the NevoLine™ Upstream platform – featuring an integrated scale-X nitro (200 and 600 m2) bioreactor – to provide a comprehensive technology range for seamless transition to commercial manufacture. The scale-X carbo system and the NevoLine Upstream platform are featured in VectorBuilder’s state-of-the-art GMP Process Development facility in Guangzhou, China for optimizing vector manufacturing at commercial scale.

About Univercells Technologies

Univercells Technologies is a global provider of innovative biomanufacturing technologies to achieve cost-effective viral production from R&D to commercial scales. The company offers a comprehensive technology portfolio leveraging the strengths of process intensification and chaining as a direct answer to the growing demand of viral vectors and viral vaccines. Univercells is committed to helping customers increase performance with minimized footprint and costs today, while anticipating the needs of tomorrow. Building upon years of expertise and capitalizing on technology vetted by world leaders, Univercells Technologies was incorporated in Belgium in 2020 following its carve-out from Univercells with the support of the Univercells Group and Gamma Biosciences.

About VectorBuilder

VectorBuilder is a rapidly growing biotechnology company specializing in advanced genetic engineering solutions for research and medicine. In particular, VectorBuilder has established itself as the global leader in a range of products and services related to gene delivery, including vector design and optimization, vector cloning, virus packaging, library construction and screening, stable cell line generation, and GMP manufacturing of clinical-grade plasmids, mRNAs, proteins and viruses. One highlight of VectorBuilder's innovative solutions is its revolutionary online platform for designing and ordering custom vectors. This award-winning platform has become highly popular with researchers around the world and has grown into an industry standard for its rich functionalities, extensive experimental validations, and easy-to-use graphical interface. By leveraging the popularity of this platform, VectorBuilder has built a comprehensive portfolio of offerings covering virtually all gene delivery needs from bench to bedside.

Learn more About VectorBuilder