PackGene and Genemagic Announce Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Innovative Drug Development

Recently, Guangzhou PackGene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“PackGene,” hereinafter referred to as “PackGene”) and Shanghai Genemagic Biosciences Co., Ltd. (“Genemagic Biosciences,” hereinafter referred to as “Genemagic”) have entered into a strategic partnership.

This strategic collaboration will fully leverage the strengths of both parties in innovative drug R&D, baculovirus/SF9-based AAV process development, and large-scale manufacturingadvantages in these areas, and to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership based on complementary strengths, mutual benefit, and joint development. Paizhen Bio will provide Whale Bio withAAV Large-Scale Production CDMOServices,Jingqi Biotech will leverage its strengths to assist PackGene in enhancing the production capabilities of its π-beta SF9 AAV high-yield platform.

Shanghai Jingqi Biotech, established in September 2020, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative therapies for central nervous system disorders, ophthalmic diseases, and otologic conditions. The company’s core technology enables the in situ regeneration of patient-specific missing cells directly within the body to treat relevant diseases. Additionally, Jingqi Biotech is committed to foundational technological innovations, possessing platforms for edited protein development and high-throughput AAV capsid engineering, which provide fundamental patent protection and technical support for the company’s independent research and development of novel therapeutics.

Dr. Jingmin Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Whale Biotech, has dedicated 17 years to the AAV field, contributing to over 10 US FDA-approved AAV INDs and one AAV BLA (Luxturna). Dr. Zhou possesses extensive CMC expertise in both triple-plasmid packaging and baculovirus/Sf9 production systems for AAV. He also served as a member of the USP Expert Panel on AAV Gene Therapy (2021–2025), which was responsible for developing best practice guidelines for AAV vector design, manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Li Huapeng, Founder of PackGene Biotech

Dr. Li Huapeng, founder of PackGene Biotech, stated:“We are honored to become a strategic partner for the CDMO of Whale Biotech’s regenerative medicine products. PackGene will spare no effort in advancing the project. In AAV manufacturing processes, triple-plasmid transfection and the baculovirus/Sf9 production system are currently the predominant methods used for marketed drugs. PackGene is not only advancing multiple IND-enabling projects using the AAV triple-plasmid system but also has accumulated years of expertise in the baculovirus/Sf9 system. This strategic collaboration between PackGene and Whale Biotech aims to jointly promote large-scale AAV production using the baculovirus/Sf9 system, enhance product quality, and reduce costs. As a high-tech CRO & CTDMO specializing in AAV gene therapies, PackGene boasts a superior clinical-grade scalable AAV production platform. Combined with our R&D and manufacturing teams’ extensive project execution experience in AAV process development and large-scale production, we are confident that this strategic partnership will yield fruitful results.”

Dr. Zhou Jingmin, Co-founder and CEO of Whale Biotech

Dr. Zhou Jingmin, Co-Founder and CEO of Whale Biotech, stated:“We are delighted to enter into a strategic partnership with PackGene Biotech. As an innovative regenerative medicine biotechnology company, Jingqi Biotech is dedicated to developing regenerative medicines for major neurological disorders by integrating cutting-edge gene editing technologies with regenerative medicine approaches, striving to become a global leader in the research and development of therapeutics for neurological diseases. We look forward to combining PackGene’s extensive expertise in large-scale AAV manufacturing with Jingqi Biotech’s innovative therapies. By joining forces in this new arena, we aim to empower global biopharmaceutical R&D through innovative drug development technologies and high-quality services, bringing hope to more patients.”

Shanghai Genemagic Biosciences Co., Ltd. (Genemagic Biosciences), founded in September 2020, is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing regenerative therapies for central nervous system disorders, ophthalmic diseases, and otologic conditions. The company’s core technology enables the in situ regeneration of patient-specific missing cells directly within the body to treat relevant diseases. Additionally, Genemagic Biosciences is committed to foundational technological innovations, possessing platforms for edited protein development and high-throughput AAV capsid engineering, which provide fundamental patent protection and technical support for the independent development of novel therapeutics. The company operates in both Shanghai, China, and Philadelphia, USA.

PackGene is a CRO and CTDMO technology company specializing in recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector packaging. It provides rapid, cost-effective, high-quality, and scalable one-stop CMC solutions for the early-stage R&D, preclinical development, clinical trials, and regulatory approval of recombinant AAV vector-based therapies for cell and gene therapy (CGT) companies. Since its establishment in 2014, as a leader in the AAV vector CRO service sector, PackGene has delivered tens of thousands of batches of customized AAV samples to clients in more than 20 countries, including top global multinational pharmaceutical companies and various research institutions. In the CTDMO service domain, leveraging five major technology platforms—including the π-Alpha™ 293 cell high-yield AAV platform and the π-Omega™ high-yield plasmid platform—and supported by a comprehensive quality and analytical system, PackGene provides compliant GMP-scale manufacturing services for AAV vectors and plasmids to meet the needs of pharmaceutical companies.

PackGene Biotech is committed to the mission of “making gene therapy affordable for the general public” and takes it as its responsibility to accelerate the market launch of innovative gene therapies, striving to become a long-term partner for global gene therapy research, development, and manufacturing. Building on innovative technologies, PackGene Biotech employs a dual-drive strategy focused on advanced vector production technologies and breakthrough vector tools, thereby establishing its international brand in the CRO and CTDMO sectors of the gene therapy field.