Thursday, January 25, 2024
Elegen, a leader in DNA manufacturing innovation, has announced a collaboration and licensing agreement with GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK). The partnership aims to utilize Elegen's proprietary technology for the production of cell-free DNA to support the development of GSK's vaccines and medicines.
The terms of the agreement involve upfront commissions and purchase commitments for Elegen's ENFINIA DNA, which will contribute to GSK's drug and vaccine development, including RNA vaccines. Elegen is also entitled to short-term milestone payments related to the development of new product features, and there is potential for an investment by GSK in shares of Elegen.
ENFINIA DNA, launched in March of the previous year, produces NGS-verified linear DNA with high complexity and clone quality of up to 7kb within seven working days. Unlike conventional mRNA synthesis methods from linearized plasmid DNA, Elegen's DNA is produced entirely cell-free, offering the potential for a seamless transition from discovery to clinical scale-up under GMP. This technology can save considerable time and resources by eliminating iterative cloning, linearization, and purification of plasmid DNA, as well as the generation of master cell banks. Elegen's cell-free DNA production technology is seen as a significant advancement that could shape the future of mRNA, cell, and gene therapies.
The collaboration follows Elegen's Early Access Program launched in May of the previous year, where customers, including many top biopharmaceutical companies, evaluated the speed, length, accuracy, and complexity of Elegen's cell-free DNA production technology. Matthew Hill, Ph.D., founder, and CEO of Elegen, emphasized GSK's recognition of the importance of reliable, turnkey DNA delivery for applications requiring speed, accuracy, and quality in DNA synthesis. The collaboration aims to expand Elegen's offerings to include the clinical manufacturing of genetic medicines, such as mRNA, cell, and viral gene therapies.
Source: businesswire.com
