MedImmune Forms Cell Engineering Pact with University of Sheffield

MedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, have entered into a five-year multiproject collaboration to generate breakthrough research in cell factory technology. 

MedImmune will provide funding and in-kind contributions to support University of Sheffield research projects to address key challenges in cell engineering. The aim is to produce tools to ensure that manufacturing success is “designed in” from an earlier stage so that development and production timelines for biologic medicines can be improved.

Researchers from MedImmune and the university will exchange research materials and work closely as an integrated team. A Joint Steering Committee (JSC) comprised of equal members from both institutions will select the research projects and may choose to seek additional grant funding from other sources to generate further high quality, collaborative work. 

The partnership will transform the current manufacturing process by creating tools that could increase yield and improve predictability for engineered proteins such as bispecific antibodies and other innovative proteins that have the potential to treat a range of diseases. In addition to MedImmune scientists, experts and infrastructure from the University’s Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and Biomedical Sciences will participate in the partnership. The collaboration builds on an existing relationship between MedImmune and the University by further investing in bioprocessing research.

Source: MedImmune