Cytiva and NecstGen say they plan to accelerate the development of new cell and gene therapies globally by entering into a strategic collaboration. Cytiva will provide its technologies, services, and solutions to NecstGen, and both organizations will share their knowledge and expertise as research programs are translated into next generation therapies, according to officials at both companies.
“Cell and gene therapies are transformative medicines and accelerating their development requires harnessing the power of the industry,” says Catarina Flyborg, vice president, cell and gene therapy, Cytiva. “By sharing our expertise and providing NecstGen with access to our team of specialists, Cytiva will play a critical role in taking translational research from the laboratory to the bedside.”
NecstGen is a non-profit contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in cell and gene therapies in the Netherlands. It brings the development, production, QC, QA, and QP functions together in a new 4,000 m2 facility in Leiden Bio Science Park, the largest bio-cluster in the Netherlands, notes Paul Bilars, CEO, NecstGen.
The new facility is designed to serve all organizations worldwide, particularly academic and small/large industry enterprises that are looking to bring their research to the clinical stage. NecstGen will provide process development, cGMP manufacturing services up to 200L, and cleanroom rental.
“Our partnership with Cytiva will provide us with the flexible and scalable solutions needed by pioneers in the field of cell and gene therapy,” says Bilars. “Working together, we will accelerate the development of future therapies, bringing these to patients faster.”
During the first half of 2021, there were 1,328 regenerative medicine trials underway globally sponsored by non-industry groups such as academic centers and government entities, according to the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. Small and mid-size enterprises and academic centers play an important role in the development of novel cell and gene therapies.
