GE to Launch “factory-in-a-box” to Expedite Gene Therapy Business
GE healthcare has now unveiled their latest offering- the KUBio “factory-in-a-box”. What’s in the box you say?
Interest in medicines which use engineered viruses to carry healthy genetic material into the cells of sick people, has exploded recently as the first wave of gene-fixing drugs reach the market. GE, better known for making jet engines and turbines, witnessing an opportunity in the fast-growing field, has now built on its existing expertise in biotech manufacturing by delivering a “factory-in-a-box” service specifically for viral vector-based medicine.
The modular KUBio biomanufacturing facility is designed, constructed, assembled and fully fitted-out to current good manufacturing practice standards much quicker than the time it usually takes to build a traditional manufacturing facility.
GE’s newest KUBio is designed for products requiring a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) environment such as viral vector based therapies, but even monoclonal antibody (mAb) and multi-product manufacturers can use the facility. The standard KUBio BSL2 includes a FlexFactory single-use biomanufacturing platform, where the recommended bioreactor size is between 200 and 1,000 liters.
The facility can be extended with a larger, or additional manufacturing suite according to the market need. As a part of the
project, GE provides end-to-end bioprocessing support including manufacturing equipment, a prefabricated modular facility and accompanying suite of services, including installation, financial guidance, project coordination, qualification and equipment maintenance services.The company in particular hopes to fill a need for facilities that can produce vaccines quickly and as the need arises. “The investment needed to build these facilities has been high, and the lack of flexibility has hindered the capability to invest,” in a statements aid Daria Donati, director of business development and innovation for the BioProcess business of GE Healthcare Life Sciences. “We believe that bringing to the market a solution that mitigates some of the challenges in flexibility and timing can help the manufacture of vaccines.”
GE Healthcare Life Sciences bioprocess general manager Olivier Loeillot said: “The challenge is that most therapeutics going through clinical trials are not suited for the existing, predominantly large-scale manufacturing infrastructure.
“Biomanufacturers are looking for fast market entry, lower costs, smaller batches and multiproduct manufacturing flexibility.”
