Oxford BioMedica, a UK gene-based biopharmaceutical company, has been awarded funding of £7.1m under the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).
The firm led the successful bid with four other UK-based participants: the Heart of England NHS Foundation, Cranfield University, Cell Therapy Catapult and Biotec Services International. The consortium has been awarded a £2.4m grant, of which Oxford BioMedica will receive £1.8m, and a £5.3m loan, which is repayable by March 2017.
The £7.7m total funding award will support the development of a centre of excellence in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) supply chains in the UK with a focus on gene-based therapies at Oxford BioMedica.
Over the next two years the firm, supported by the consortium, will develop its capability in serum-free, non-adherent manufacturing techniques and expand its proprietary manufacturing facility in Oxford to contain a third production suite and a state-of-the-art fill and finish operation. The overall project cost is estimated at £9.2m and is expected to take two years to complete.
The AMSCI project win follows Oxford BioMedica’s recently announced collaboration with Novartis to manufacture clinical grade material using the firm’s LentiVector gene delivery technology.
The firm said the project will bring significant benefits to its clinical programmes and further strengthens its capability to partner companies seeking manufacturing and process development solutions for gene-based ATMPs.
John Dawson, Chief Executive of Oxford BioMedica, said: 'Not only is this project funding a fantastic outcome for Oxford BioMedica, which allows us to fulfill our potential as a world-class manufacturer, but it also demonstrates the strong and growing demand for industrialising the development of gene-based therapies.'
Michael Fallon, UK Business and Energy Minister, added: 'This project, led by Oxford BioMedica, will create a new centre of excellence that will help underscore our world-leading capabilities in the biopharmaceutical sector while creating a host of new local jobs.'