WuXi AppTec Announces Strategic Manufacturing Partnership with ViGeneron for Next-Generation Ophthalmic Gene Therapy VG901

PHILADELPHIA and MUNICH, Germany, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi ATU, the cell and gene therapy CTDMO under WuXi AppTec, today announced a strategic collaboration with gene therapy company ViGeneron to provide manufacturing services for ViGeneron's next-generation ophthalmic gene therapy product VG901 during its clinical development phase, thereby accelerating the R&D progress of this innovative therapy.

ViGeneron’s innovative gene therapy product pipeline is dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs in the treatment of ocular diseases. VG901 is a key innovative drug developed on the company’s proprietary next-generation vgAAV vector platform. Targeting the pathogenic genes responsible for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), this product enables more efficient transduction of retinal cells through minimally invasive intravitreal administration. Currently, no related therapies have been approved in the industry.

WuXi ATU will leverage its leading adeno-associated virus (AAV) suspension production platform and plasmid DNA production platform to help accelerate the clinical-stage testing and manufacturing of the VG901 product.

Dr. Man Xu, Co-Founder and CEO of ViGeneronstated: “We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with WuXi ATU and leverage its specialized, integrated CTDMO platform to advance the clinical development of our VG901 product. This innovative gene therapy product is scheduled for manufacturing by the end of this year to support clinical trials, thereby better addressing patient needs. All related activities are currently progressing in an orderly manner. Both ViGeneron and WuXi ATU firmly believe that establishing a long-term strategic partnership will help ensure high product quality and sustainability, while continuously accelerating project progress.”

“We are honored to support ViGeneron in advancing this innovative research in the field of ophthalmic therapeutics.”。“Dr. Youxiang Zhang, CEO of WuXi ATU, stated，“VG901 holds promise for bringing hope to many patients suffering from ophthalmic diseases. Through this collaboration, we aim to join forces with ViGeneron to deliver faster and more reliable solutions, ensuring better treatment outcomes for patients with eye diseases worldwide.”

AboutViGeneron

ViGeneron is dedicated to developing innovative gene therapies for ophthalmic diseases with significant unmet medical needs, while also collaborating with top-tier biopharmaceutical companies in other therapeutic areas. The company’s product development is built upon two proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platforms. The first is the vgAAV gene therapy vector platform, which enables high transduction efficiency and minimally invasive intraocular administration. The second is the REVeRT vector platform, designed to address diseases caused by large-segment gene mutations. ViGeneron was founded in 2017 in Munich, Germany, by senior executives from internationally renowned pharmaceutical companies and a team of experts with extensive experience in AAV vector technology and ophthalmic gene therapy R&D. For more information, please visitwww.vigeneron.com。

About WuXi AppTec

WuXi AppTec (Stock Codes: 603259.SH/2359.HK) provides comprehensive, integrated new drug research and development (R&D) and manufacturing services to the global biopharmaceutical industry. By empowering pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies worldwide, WuXi AppTec is committed to accelerating the new drug R&D process and delivering breakthrough therapies to patients. Adhering to its mission of prioritizing research and maintaining a customer-centric approach, WuXi AppTec helps clients enhance R&D efficiency through cost-effective and high-quality services. Its service portfolio covers the R&D and manufacturing of chemical drugs, the R&D and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies, and medical device testing, among other areas. Since 2019, WuXi AppTec has achieved an “A” rating in MSCI’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) assessments for two consecutive years. Currently, WuXi AppTec’s enabling platforms support R&D and innovation projects for more than 4,100 partners across over 30 countries. The company is dedicated to bringing more innovative and effective medicines to patients worldwide, striving to realize its vision of “making it easy to develop drugs and cure difficult diseases.” For more information, please visit the company website:www.wuxiapptec.com

About WuXi ATU

WuXi ATU, a CTDMO under WuXi AppTec specializing in cell and gene therapies, is dedicated to accelerating and transforming the development, testing, manufacturing, and commercialization of cell therapies, gene therapies, and other advanced treatments. WuXi ATU empowers global customers to bring more innovative therapies to market sooner, thereby benefiting patients. For more information, please visit the company’s website:www.advancedtherapies.com