CCRM and CDMO subsidiary OmniaBio have partnered with Avectas to evaluate its automated, integrated, and scalable cell therapy manufacturing platform.
The evaluation will explore how Avectas’ platform could complement CCRM’s global network and OmniaBio’s efforts to enable more standardised, automated, and scalable manufacturing workflows.
CCRM is advancing the development and commercialisation of regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. Through its network of hubs, CCRM works with industry, academia, health care organisations, and governments to accelerate patient access to transformative therapies.
OmniaBio is a contract development and manufacturing organisation focused on cell and gene therapies. The company is developing the AI-enabled Intelligent Factory TM, created to increase manufacturing efficiency, scalability, and consistency through automation and robotics.
CCRM and OmniaBio are developing a global ‘hub-and-spoke’ model to support regional manufacturing of cell and other advanced therapies. The model combines centralised and distributed process and analytics capabilities, and Avectas has developed a cell therapy manufacturing platform to address key challenges in scale-up, scale-out, automation, and cost-effective manufacturing.
Dr Michael May, president and CEO of CCRM and Interim CEO, OmniaBio, said, “We first collaborated with Avectas in 2020 and have closely followed the progress of Avectas’ manufacturing platform over the past several years. As we continue to expand CCRM’s global network of advanced therapy hubs, we are excited to evaluate technologies that have the potential to improve automation, scalability and manufacturing efficiency. Platforms designed for complex cell therapy workflows will be critical to enabling regional manufacturing and expanding affordable access to breakthrough cell therapies for patients around the world.”
CCRM’s global network includes hubs in Canada, Australia and the Nordic countries. CCRM recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RINN Advanced Therapies to explore establishing CCRM Ireland alongside partners in the local ecosystem. The proposed Irish hub would strengthen Ireland’s advanced therapy development and manufacturing capabilities while creating new opportunities for international collaboration and technology deployment.
Dr Michael Maguire, CEO of Avecta, said, “This is an important moment for advanced therapies in Ireland and internationally. The Irish and Canadian governments have announced a Memorandum of Understanding to expand life science collaboration between the two countries, coordinated with a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Ireland and coinciding with the announcement of funding for the Research Ireland RINN Centre for Advanced Therapies. We are excited at the prospect of a CCRM Ireland and proud to be selected to have our cell therapy manufacturing platform evaluated at CCRM and OmniaBio at such an important moment, as advanced therapies infrastructure continues to develop in Ireland and globally.”
