LogoBiotechNW
The life science and biotech PR distribution service

Touchlight and GSK Sign License Agreement for Use of Enzymatic dbDNA Production Technology for mRNA Manufacturing

Touchlight logo

Agreement enables GSK access to enzymatic production technology for rapid GMP production of DNA template for mRNA vaccine manufacturing

HAMPTON, UK, July 23, 2024 / Biotech Newswire / -- Touchlight, an innovation-driven CDMO pioneering enzymatic DNA production to enable the genetic medicine revolution, today announced a license agreement with GSK, a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation. This agreement grants GSK non-exclusive rights to use Touchlight’s proprietary enzymatic dbDNA™ (doggybone DNA™) technology for the development and production of mRNA-based products.

The license will enable GSK to access the leading technology for rapid and scalable GMP production of DNA, with the potential to accelerate substantially the production of multivalent mRNA vaccines, including for use against seasonal epidemics and pandemic threats. While financial terms of the agreement are undisclosed, the deal includes an upfront payment, ongoing technology access fees, clinical and regulatory milestone payments and royalties on GSK’s mRNA products manufactured with Touchlight’s enzymatic dbDNA.

Touchlight’s dbDNA technology can produce high-purity GMP DNA using an enzymatic process, offering a faster, more scalable alternative to traditional plasmid DNA production. dbDNA is particularly well suited for mRNA vaccine development, as it enables rapid and efficient production of the DNA templates required for mRNA synthesis.

In 2023 Touchlight brought online its state-of-the-art multi-kg production facility, and now has numerous client products that have implemented dbDNA for clinical development, including three with accepted IND/CTAs. In addition to being deployed as both a critical starting material for mRNA production and within AAV products, dbDNA will enter clinical development later in 2024 as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for a therapeutic cancer vaccine, alongside multiple other anticipated INDs across various modalities.

Jonny Ohlson, Executive Chair and Founder of Touchlight, commented on the partnership: “GSK is a global leader in vaccination, and we are delighted they have licensed our proprietary enzymatic dbDNA™ technology for the development and production of their mRNA-based products. The adoption of Touchlight’s enzymatic DNA is gathering pace and becoming an important part of the advanced therapy supply chain. Our technology delivers the speed, scalability and high-quality DNA products that are essential for the next generation of mRNA therapeutics”.

pic1 pic2

Touchlight’s GMP manufacturing facility in Hampton, UK

For high resolution please click the images.

 

About Touchlight
Touchlight is a privately-owned innovation-driven CDMO based in London, U.K., focused on the provision of DNA services and manufacture of enzymatically produced dbDNA™ (doggybone DNA) to enable the development of genetic medicines. Touchlight provide rapid, enzymatic DNA development and manufacturing for all advanced therapy production, including mRNA, viral and non-viral gene therapy and DNA API. dbDNA is a minimal, linear, covalently closed structure, which eliminates bacterial sequences. Touchlight’s revolutionary enzymatic production platform enables unprecedented speed, scale, and the ability to target genes with a size and complexity that is impossible with current technologies. Clients can be supported from pre-clinical through development and supply, to licencing and tech transfer for use in-house.

About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

 

Contact

Touchlight
Karen Fallen, Chief Executive Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+44 20 8481 9200

 

Keywords: mRNA Vaccines; Pandemics; Vaccines, Combined; Vaccine Development; Vaccines, DNA; RNA, Messenger; Technology; Plasmids; Biotechnology; Humans; United Kingdom; Touchlight; GSK; license agreement; enzymatic dbDNA production; mRNA manufacturing; enzymatic production technology; GMP production; DNA template; mRNA vaccine; multivalent mRNA vaccines; high-purity GMP DNA; plasmid DNA production; mRNA synthesis; multi-kg production facility; clinical development; Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API); mRNA therapeutics; genetic medicines; DNA services; enzymatically produced dbDNA; gene therapy; DNA API; enzymatic production platform

Source: Biotech Newswire