Novel Oncology Biotherapeutics: Gene Therapies

Speaking from the perspective of a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Andrew Moreo, head of Process Development and Pre-clinical Manufacturing, Andelyn Biosciences, sat down with BioPharm International^® to discuss new modalities in the treatment of cancer, specifically in the field of gene therapies. As a CDMO, Andelyn works with clients who develop a variety of products, including traditional adeno-associated virus gene therapies, in vivo gene therapies, and cell-based therapies, both allogeneic and autologous.

The precise nature of gene therapy makes it effective for treating cancer, says Moreo, because it can target specific cancers and types of cells. Gene therapy can also be used in conjunction with other cancer treatments. But how can the development and manufacture of these novel therapies be accelerated? The development of curator platforms is key, Moreo says. These platforms allow for standardization and consistency from product to product.

Andelyn’s own curator platform has “a modular design with optimization actually built into the process itself, into the platform itself, that makes things go much smoother,” Moreo explains. “And in our business, smooth is fast. As not every product is created equal, we have to be able to provide the consistency and efficiency of a platform, but at the same time, also provide flexibility because different genes, approaches, vectors, serotypes, and transgenes perform differently and have different demands based on the needs of the indication.”

Click the above video to watch the full interview.