ASGCT highlights transformational approaches

When it comes to large events, the best place to be is front and center. And at the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in Los Angeles, that’s where we were, right inside the door in the middle of the exhibition hall. Not only were we able to greet nearly everyone who came to the exhibits, for the first time we joined other Danaher companies in one centralized location, allowing us to jointly highlight the Danaher mission, helping people realize life’s potential, to clients, partners and the industry in general.

A crazy, mixed-up world of cell & gene therapy in 2023

News concerning cell and gene therapy (CGT) may make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster. The ride moves very quickly with a lot of ups and downs, plus a few unexpected turns. As we move through 2023, excitement for CGT remains high, but there are lingering concerns about manufacturing and the ability of health care systems to keep up with the science.

Ongoing growth in CGT capacity

As the era of genomic medicine gains speed with the innovation of new technologies, we are at the forefront of genetic tools that can prevent, treat, or cure human diseases. It’s an exciting time, as during this early stage in developing new biological drug products, academics and industry are working closely to optimize cell and gene therapies (CGT) for a range of diseases. 

Achieving advancement in ATMP regulation through disruptive innovation of European healthcare systems

Partnerships and transformation are a large part of our evolving biotech landscape. Not surprisingly, they were two common themes at this year’s Meeting on the Med in Barcelona.  As an example, attendees discussed how the lack of harmonization across EU member states has led to fragmented access to advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), which varies from country to country. Chris Fox, president of Novartis Gene Therapies, used her company’s product, ZOLGENSMA®, as an example. It’s approved for use in 48 countries but is only accessible in 35. 

Advantages of the Nanoplasmid RNA-OUT Marker System

For decades, the same plasmid technology has been used in vaccination, cell and gene therapy, and as a raw material in viral vector and RNA production, but that technology often isn’t a good fit for the processes where it’s being used. Now, with the growing availability of Nanoplasmid™ vectors, that is changing.

Covering multiple modalities

Every year, October marks the change in the season, the dropping of temperatures, and the height of conference season for biotech. This year’s ESGCT meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, was the event’s first in-person occurrence since 2019, and it was exciting to be back – Edinburgh didn’t disappoint! There was rich dialogue amongst industry experts, healthy attendance with over 2,000 delegates, exceptional networking events, and the city of Edinburgh was a joy with several unseasonably sunny days.

CRISPR nucleases and Nanoplasmid^TM working together

As one of the most significant discoveries in gene and cell therapy, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems continue to evolve. In this webinar, “Genome Editing Tools: Beyond Discovery,” Aldevron experts Dr. Jim Williams and Max Sellman detail innovative tools to support gene editing clinical programs, highlighting Nanoplasmids as an HDR template paired with Cas9 nucleases in CAR-T applications.

A first look at patient data at ISSCR

I’m always grateful for the chance to hear the latest results from drug developers in the CRISPR space. That’s why it was a huge bonus to have a world class cell and gene therapy conference just fifteen minutes down the road from Aldevron Madison in September!

Nanoplasmid™ Vectors: The Power of Small

In cell and gene therapies, delivery is a critical factor. Regardless of your modality, optimizing payload, impact, and duration are common challenges. Countless programs, globally, are working on the delivery mechanism. However, many have overlooked a key component in improving therapeutic or manufacturing performance: the plasmid.