Life Biosciences, a biotechnology company developing cellular rejuvenation technologies to reverse diseases of aging and injury, and Forge Biologics, a genetic medicines manufacturing organization, entered into a manufacturing partnership to help advance Life Bio’s partial epigenetic reprogramming platform to address aging-related diseases, including its lead program targeting ophthalmic indications.

“Life Bio is an emerging leader in the development of novel therapies for aging-related diseases, and we are thrilled to serve as their cGMP manufacturing partner to help advance the manufacturing of AAV for their innovative cellular rejuvenation technology, which has the potential to benefit millions of aging patients worldwide,” said, Timothy Miller, CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Forge.

Through the partnership, Forge will provide adeno-associated virus (AAV) process development, toxicology, cGMP manufacturing, and analytical services to Life Bio. The company will utilize Forge’s platform processes including its HEK293 suspension Ignition Cells and pEMBR adenovirus helper plasmid. All development and AAV manufacturing activities will occur at the Hearth, Forge’s 200,000 sq.-ft. gene therapy facility in Columbus, OH.

“We are delighted to be working with the Forge team, whose expertise in gene therapy manufacturing is unmatched,” said Jerry McLaughlin, CEO of Life Biosciences. “We believe we’re on the cusp of revolutionizing medicine with our cellular rejuvenation capabilities across a range of aging-related diseases, including ophthalmic disorders that involve retinal ganglion cell dysfunction. We are confident our partnership with Forge will have a tremendous impact on our ability to enhance the speed and quality with which we can manufacture our therapeutic candidates as we progress toward the first human clinical trials and continue to develop treatments to reverse diseases of aging by restoring cells to a more youthful state.”