Novel transfection reagent set to alleviate viral vector bottleneck

Polyplus-transfection launches FectoVIR-AAV to improve AVV productivity. (Image source: Polyplus-transfection)

The FectoVIR-AAV transfection reagent achieves large-scale transient transfection resulting in up to a 10-fold increase in AAV functional viral titer yields in suspension cell systems.

The reagent has been specifically developed to improve AAV (adeno-associated virus) production in suspension cell culture system for large-scale manufacturing.

AAVs are predominantly used in gene therapy development. To date, there has been a significant and well-identified bottleneck in manufacturing sufficient amounts of AAV viral vectors to treat patients. This will continue to increase as more therapies are commercialized and reach late-stage clinical trials.

To increase capabilities, viral manufacturers are looking for effective ways to adapt key steps of production for large-scale manufacturing. Transient transfection is a critical step that is indispensable for a reliable industrial manufacturing process. Polyplus-transfection has developed the FectoVIR-AAV transfection reagent to achieve large-scale transient transfection resulting in up to a 10-fold increase in AAV functional viral titer yields in suspension cell systems.

Polyplus-transfection developed the FectoVIR-AAV transfection reagent in partnership with a range of viral manufacturers internationally. Rather than follow the industry standard model of developing a reagent for small-scale manufacturing and adapting for large-scale production, Polyplus-transfection has developed the entirely new reagent with large-scale transient transfection in mind, and then validated its use all the way through the R&D process.

“The AAV viral vector bottleneck has been persistently identified as a major challenge for the development of the entire gene therapy industry,” said Karsten Wilking, CEO, Polyplus-transfection. Yet, by working with a range of handpicked international viral manufacturers to provide the FectoVIR-AAV reagent, the company has helped to alleviate a major concern for the gene therapy sector and will result in a high number of therapies reaching the market and patients more quickly.