Cobra Biologics and The University of Manchester work together to improve industrial scale-up

Published: 28-Sep-2015

Form a two-year partnership with support from the BBSRC's Flexible Interchange Programme


Cobra Biologics, a Swedish contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has formed a two-year partnership with Alan Dickson, Professor of Biotechnology at The University of Manchester (UoM), aimed at improving understanding of cellular bioprocessing required for the scaled production of therapeutic proteins.

The research is supported by the Flexible Interchange Programme (FLIP) from the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

The partners will address the need for greater predictability and certainty in process development and scale-up for the production of protein-based biopharmaceuticals for application in therapeutic areas including cancer and inflammation.

The agreement will give Cobra access to UoM’s academic and associated research group, while Professor Dickson will receive Cobra’s production data and gain knowledge of industrial manufacturing processes.

Dr Daniel Smith, CSO Cobra Biologics, said: 'The insights of Professor Dickson into the various processes and tools used, combined with historical data case studies undertaken by Cobra Biologics, will allow better definition and enhancement of our current manufacturing processes and to build towards the idealised platforms and processes for future manufacture of innovator and biosimilar molecules.'

Professor Dickson added: 'In working with colleagues at Cobra Biologics over the next two years, we hope to develop predictive visions for choice, manipulation and decision-making in manufacturing processes.'

Financial terms of the agreement and terms relating to intellectual property have not been disclosed.

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