Wacker Biotech and Expression Manufacturing announce strategic partnership to accelerate the development of lentiviral-based gene and cell therapies.
In response to the growing demand for high-quality, scalable lentiviral vectors crucial in advancing innovative gene therapies, Wacker Biotech and Expression Manufacturing have entered into a strategic collaboration. The goal is to advance the development and manufacturing of lentiviral-based gene and cell therapies.
Wacker Biotech is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wacker Chemie, specialising in plasmid DNA (pDNA) production. Expression Manufacturing is a leader in viral vector technology. The partnership combines the complementary strengths of both companies to provide biopharma and biotech clients with an end-to-end, optimised solution for viral vector development and production.
Strengths and synergies in the mix
Wacker Biotech brings its proven PLASMITEC® platform, which utilises a proprietary E. coli strain to enable efficient production in as little as four months of high-quality (>90% supercoiled) pDNA, including transfer plasmids containing the gene of interest, as well as packaging and envelope plasmids. Operating out of its state-of-the-art pDNA center of excellence in San Diego, California and supported by sister sites in Europe, Wacker Biotech is a trusted partner for multiple drug delivery modalities.
Expression Manufacturing contributes its proprietary LentET™ platform, which features advanced lentiviral plasmid backbone technology and viral vector manufacturing capabilities. Expression’s technology is designed to enhance the safety, efficacy and precision of gene therapy. It offers features such as ultra-low homology backbones to reduce recombination risks and increase safety. The optimised coding sequences for 293T cells, a widely used cell line for viral vector production, results in higher potency. Expression operates a state-of-the-art viral vector manufacturing facility in Ohio. The facility is equipped with cleanrooms, production suites, and process development rooms to support the next generation of cell and gene therapies.
Streamlining the supply chain
“Lentiviral vectors are transforming gene therapy by enabling delivery of complex genetic payloads with unprecedented precision,” said Bill Swaney, President of Expression Manufacturing. “Partnering with WACKER means we can combine our cutting-edge LentET™ technology with their unmatched plasmid manufacturing capabilities, offering our clients a seamless, fully integrated production pathway. This partnership not only accelerates timelines but substantially simplifies the path from research to patient delivery.”
The collaboration streamlines the supply chain for clients, reduces time to market, and ensures the highest quality and safety standards throughout the drug development and manufacturing process. Successfully proven through client projects, this end-to-end collaboration offers a combined synchronised platform enabling accelerated production of high-performing viral vector biopharmaceuticals.
“We are delighted to partner with Expression Manufacturing to bring end-to-end viral vector solutions to our clients,” said Mark Busch, Head of Business Development, Biopharma, Wacker Biotech US Inc. “As a leader in the production of plasmid DNA via our proprietary PLASMITEC® platform, we now offer through this partnership the viral vector backbone technology to complete the manufacturing cycle for lentiviral delivery. Expression is a leader in viral vector manufacturing, and we look forward to working with them for our clients’ benefit to produce a diverse range of advanced therapeutics.”
This partnership positions Wacker Biotech and Expression as premium providers in the viral vector gene and cell therapy space, offering a seamless pathway from starting materials to delivered vector systems.
