Advanced process control of AAV manufacture: digitalisation, PAT and automation to improve productivity, quality and consistency

The therapeutic potential for gene therapies is transformative, where many largely intractable diseases will be treated safely, effectively and durably. Therapies are now starting to get approved (e.g. Roctavian, Zolgensma, and Luxturna), but cost remains a large barrier to entry and widespread patient access, partly due to suboptimal manufacturing processes. If gene therapies are ever going to be used to treat highly prevalent diseases, then breakthroughs need to be made in manufacturing.

One area in need of improvement is process analytical technology (PAT) and continuous process monitoring. Current methods rely on laborious off-line analysis performed by highly trained operators at discrete time-points which introduces significant costs, delays and increases the chances of contamination. This project will use next-generation automation and novel PAT technologies to enable real-time characterisation and control of the manufacturing process.