Carina Biotech, CellVec Enter Clinical Mfg. Pact for Cell Therapy

CellVec, a Singapore-based viral vector CDMO, has been selected as the manufacturer of choice for Australian cell therapy immuno-oncology company Carina Biotech, undertaking the production of GMP-compliant lentivirus constructs for its LGR5 CAR-T. The partnership is slated to advance clinical trials for a treatment designed for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
CellVec is a certified GMP gene therapy CDMO that provides an advanced lentiviral vector platform to upscale production of viral vectors and develop novel gene transfer technologies to advance therapies to clinical application. Its strategic offering of custom manufacturing services will enable the clinical grade lentivirus to be produced under GMP standards while using Carina’s manufacturing process, progressing the production of LGR5 CAR-T cells for a first in-human clinical trial in 2H22.
“The partnership with Carina Biotech marks a significant milestone for us to facilitate the furtherance of gene therapies. It attests to our capabilities to effectively scale bespoke viral vector manufacturing processes, enabling the advancement of different clinical therapies from bench to bedside that will benefit more patients across the world. We look forward to supporting Carina in the successful development of its LGR5 CAR-T cells,” said Dr Ang Peng Tiam, Chairman of CellVec and Medical Director of Parkway Cancer Centre, the largest private oncology service provider in the region.
“We are delighted to be working with CellVec because of their outstanding track record and expertise,” said Professor Simon Barry, VP of CAR-T Manufacturing Research and Development and the co-inventor of Carina’s lead CAR-T cell. “Their flexibility and willingness to incorporate Carina’s proprietary manufacturing process was an important consideration in the selection of CellVec as our service provider.”
Leveraging its advanced CellVec Vector Platform, CellVec’s efficacious manufacturing processes will scale the production of high-titre, high yield lentivirus constructs in an accelerated timeline (6 to 8 months) for the project. The LGR5 CAR-T cell targets the LGR5 cancer stem cell marker that is highly expressed on advanced colorectal cancer and some other cancers, resulting in durable tumour suppression and the prevention of relapses commonly seen in patients with colorectal cancer.