- Recipharm and CanVirex have begun a process development collaboration to scale up CanVirex’s Vero cell/measles virus manufacturing platform.
- The collaboration is moving from feasibility studies and technology transfer into process development runs using a scalable bioreactor process based on microcarrier culture.
Recipharm and Swiss biotechnology company CanVirex have begun a process development collaboration to support the scale-up of CanVirex’s Vero cell/measles virus manufacturing platform. The companies have initiated technology transfer of CanVirex’s process to Recipharm, with the collaboration intended to establish the manufacturing foundation for future clinical studies and long-term commercial scalability.
CanVirex is developing an oncolytic measles virus platform designed to combine direct tumor destruction with local immune activation. Its lead program is an IL-12-expressing oncolytic measles virus being advanced for patients with difficult-to-treat solid tumors, including tumor types that remain poorly served by current immunotherapy approaches. The program builds on more than two decades of clinical development of engineered oncolytic measles viruses.
The collaboration initially involved feasibility studies led by Recipharm to support cell and virus banking in static culture systems. This work established development cell and virus banks and confirmed the suitability of CanVirex’s Vero cell/measles virus system for further process development. The program has now progressed to process development runs, including the transfer of process knowledge and optimization of a scalable bioreactor manufacturing process based on microcarrier culture.
The program is also intended to provide a path toward future GMP manufacturing and clinical production through a single development and manufacturing partner. Recipharm said establishing the process at its facility can provide continuity of knowledge and reduce technology transfer risk. CanVirex selected Recipharm based on its expertise in virus manufacturing and its ability to provide end-to-end services for oncolytic viruses requiring aseptic processing, including large, unfilterable viruses.
The project is being delivered from Recipharm’s Cuxhaven facility in Germany. The site provides development, manufacturing, sterile fill and finish, and analytical services for viral vectors, oncolytic viruses and sterile microbial products.
“Establishing a scalable manufacturing process is a critical step toward bringing our next-generation oncolytic measles virus platform into clinical development.”
Dr. Werner Tschollar, chairman of the board of directors at CanVirex
