Developing world-leading capabilities in drug substance and drug product viral vector production for gene and immunotherapy.

Keele and Stirling, UK: Cobra Biologics (Cobra), an international contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) focused on viral vector drug substance production, and Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services (Symbiosis), a contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) specialising in the sterile manufacture of injectable viral vector drug products, today announced the successful completion of their collaboration to develop synergistic and world leading capabilities.

Intended to accelerate the clinical and commercial production of viral vectors, which represent part of the burgeoning Advanced Therapeutics Medicinal Product (ATMP) drug development space and the frontier of personalised medicine, the 18-month joint project saw a combined investment of £4.8m including significant support from a grant received under the UK Governments’ Innovate UK Health and Life Sciences Programme.

The collaboration significantly increases both companies’ existing commercial capacity and simplifies the supply chain process for manufacture of viral vectors for use in gene therapy and immunotherapy. By aligning the technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities of Cobra and Symbiosis, the complexity, time and risk of viral vector manufacturing projects will be greatly reduced meaning that customer companies developing viral vector ATMPs can derive their own competitive value from accelerating their progression along the drug development critical path. 

As a result of the subsequent simplification and enhanced efficiency of the viral vector supply chain, Cobra and Symbiosis can support new and existing customers’ clinical and commercial ambitions to deliver a growing number of innovative cell and gene therapy medicines to market and to the patients most in need of their therapeutic benefits.

Peter Coleman, Chief Executive at Cobra Biologics, said: “The Innovate UK grant has enabled Cobra and Symbiosis to form a close partnership to provide a seamless viral vector service to the global community for both clinical and commercial supply.  In conjunction with Symbiosis, we have now helped to establish the UK as world leader in this exciting field.”

Colin MacKay, Chief Executive of Symbiosis, added: “The strategic focus of Innovate UK in proactively supporting the development of a supply chain which aligns multiple service providers – such as Symbiosis and Cobra - to specifically enhance their joint means to facilitate the development of viral vectors and other ATMPs here in the UK is not only astute but will generate tangible value which will benefit the UK, the CDMOs receiving grants alongside their respective clients, and ultimately the patients most in need of those innovative medicines.

“The relationship that Symbiosis and Cobra have forged during this grant collaboration project represents an excellent foundation for both companies to strengthen their aligned ability to develop world class personalised medicines more quickly for shared clients from around the world.”

About Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services Ltd

Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services (Symbiosis) is a CMO established in 2011 in response to an increasing global demand for niche, sterile manufacturing specialists that could satisfy product supply needs for clinical trials.

The company created its purpose-built facility in Stirling, Scotland, specifically designed with biologic and small molecule production capabilities in mind to support biotech and speciality pharmaceutical companies worldwide that require small-scale injectable products.

Manufacturing capability takes place within an MHRA-licensed facility, which enables the team at Symbiosis to fill bulk volumes up to 100 litres, including products that require aseptic liquid filling and lyophilisation.

Regulatory compliance, technical capability and operational flexibility are core to Symbiosis’ offerings and direct access to the best people who deliver projects on time is what its clients demand and receive every day. For more information please visit: www.symbiosis-pharma.com

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency. It drives productivity and growth by supporting businesses to realise the potential of new technologies, develop ideas and make them a commercial success.

With a strong business focus, Innovate UK drives growth by working with companies to de-risk, enable and support innovation.

For further information visit: www.innovateuk.org

Contacts 

Media enquiries

Sarah Jeffery

Zyme Communications

E-mail: sarah.jeffery@zymecommunications.com

Phone: +44 (0)7771 730919

At Cobra Biologics

Peter Coleman

Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: peter.coleman@cobrabio.com

Phone: +44 (0)1782 714181

At Symbiosis

Rachael Heath

ramarketing

E-mail: rachael@ramarketingpr.com

Phone: +44 (0)7592 342866