Wacker Biotech Partners with Expression to Deliver Integrated Viral Vector Manufacturing

• Wacker Biotech and Expression Manufacturing have announced a collaboration to offer integrated viral vector manufacturing solutions.

• The partnership combines Wacker’s PLASMITEC® plasmid DNA platform with Expression’s LentET™ lentiviral technology.

Wacker Biotech has entered a strategic collaboration with Expression Manufacturing to deliver fully integrated viral vector manufacturing solutions for the cell and gene therapy sector. The partnership brings together Wacker’s proprietary PLASMITEC® platform and Expression’s LentET™ viral vector technology.

The agreement enables a streamlined, end-to-end manufacturing process by linking plasmid DNA production and lentiviral vector manufacturing. Wacker will operate from its plasmid DNA centre of excellence in San Diego, supported by European sites, while Expression contributes its 43,000-square-foot facility in West Chester, Ohio, equipped with cleanrooms, production suites, and process development rooms.

The collaboration is designed to accelerate time to market and simplify supply chains for clients. According to the companies, the integrated offering supports the production of high-performing viral vector biopharmaceuticals with a focus on safety, potency, and quality. “Partnering with WACKER means we can combine our cutting-edge LentET™ technology with their unmatched plasmid manufacturing capabilities,” said Bill Swaney, President of Expression Manufacturing.

The PLASMITEC® platform uses a proprietary E. coli strain to produce plasmid DNA with over 90% supercoiled quality in as little as four months. Expression’s LentET™ platform, meanwhile, features ultra-low homology backbones and optimised sequences for 293T cells, aiming to enhance both safety and efficacy in gene therapy applications.