CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH and Rznomics Inc. have signed a clinical and commercial license agreement for the use of CEVEC’s CAP Technology for the manufacture of adenoviruses for gene therapy applications. Rznomics will use CEVEC’s cell line technology in combination with Rznomics’ trans-splicing ribozyme technology for manufacturing gene therapies targeting various cancer indications. Financial details were not disclosed.

CEVEC’s CAP cell line is based on an engineered human suspension cell line of non-tumor origin, derived from human amniocyte cells. CAP cells can be grown in all formats and all sizes of bioreactors providing a robust, fully scalable production platform for the manufacturing of AV vectors from research grade and smaller amounts up to industrial volumes.

Recombinant adenoviral vectors (AVs) are among the most efficient vectors for gene therapy purposes and have become the vehicle of choice in many human gene therapies. Today, many cell lines used for production of AVs generate certain levels of replication-competent adenovirus (RCAs). The presence of RCAs in AV preparations which are intended for use in humans is increasingly considered to be a potential risk, especially for immuno-compromised patients. The CAP® cell line is specifically designed to avoid the production of RCAs.