Genome editing enzymes such as Cas9 have been successfully employed to target different genetic disorders in model systems, and ex vivo approaches have demonstrated the clinical potential of this technology. However, the challenge of delivering such corrective enzymes in vivo represents a substantial barrier to therapeutic translation.  

Viral vectors—refined during their use in traditional gene therapy—represent the most widely-used delivery platform in preclinical work, and nanoparticles are quickly maturing into a comparably powerful vehicle. Direct delivery of pre-formed CRISPR enzymes has recently emerged as an appealing strategy for enabling therapeutic editing in vivo.  

Plasmid DNA was key to the development of biologic drug manufacturing. Today, it plays a critical role in the production of next-generation cell and gene therapies and vaccines. With its plasmid DNA manufacturing expertise, Aldevron has helped facilitate the advance of these important therapeutics. The company continues to invest in additional capacity and novel capabilities to support biopharma manufacturers into the future.

Aldevron and Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT), a supplier of custom nucleic acid and genome editing products, have announced a license agreement whereby Aldevron will manufacture and distribute a S. pyogenes Cas9 variant—known as SpyFi^TM Cas9 Nuclease—which is patented by IDT. The product will be manufactured for research, clinical, and commercial use.