WuXi AppTec Completes Acquisition of OXGENE to Strengthen Global Cell and Gene Therapy Capabilities

WuXi AppTec Announces Completion of Acquisition of UK Gene Therapy Technology Company OXGENEOn March 2, 2021, WuXi AppTec announced the completion of its acquisition of OXGENE, a UK-based gene therapy technology company. This acquisition will further expand the technical capabilities of WuXi AppTec’s cell and gene therapy platform, enabling the company to provide integrated, end-to-end development and manufacturing services for cell and gene therapy products, thereby facilitating global patient access to innovative therapies.

Through this acquisition, OXGENE will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of WuXi Advanced Therapies, WuXi AppTec’s cell and gene therapy CTDMO platform. Meanwhile, OXGENE will retain its original name and serve as WuXi Advanced Therapies’ first R&D and manufacturing base in Europe. The integration of OXGENE will further strengthen the integrated platform capabilities of WuXi Advanced Therapies, empowering global clients to accelerate the development, testing, production, and commercialization of cell and gene therapy products, thereby facilitating the earlier market entry of more innovative therapies.

Since its establishment in 2011, OXGENE has provided efficient drug discovery and manufacturing solutions for the cell and gene therapy industry, leveraging its innovative technologies, R&D services, and robust large-scale production systems. Furthermore, OXGENE’s novel TESSA technology for adeno-associated virus (AAV) production and its XLenti solution for stable lentiviral production have not only enhanced the manufacturing efficiency of cell and gene therapy products but also significantly reduced costs.

“OXGENE’s proprietary next-generation technology platform has successfully addressed the complexities associated with viral vector production in cell and gene therapies,” said Dr. Ryan Cawood, Founder and CEO of OXGENE. “We are delighted to join WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU) to jointly strengthen the scalable application of innovative technologies, continuously expand our service capabilities, help customers significantly increase production capacity and reduce costs, and accelerate the availability of more cell and gene therapies to benefit patients worldwide.”

“We warmly welcome OXGENE to join WuXi Advanced Therapies,” said Dr. Zhang Youxiang, CEO of WuXi Advanced Therapies. “By combining WuXi Advanced Therapies’ leading cell and gene therapy CTDMO platform with OXGENE’s cutting-edge innovative technological capabilities, we will deliver transformative solutions to our customers. Through this acquisition, WuXi Advanced Therapies will further strengthen its R&D and manufacturing platform for cell and gene therapies, continuously empowering customers to bring more and better innovative treatment options to patients worldwide.”

OXGENE provides end-to-end services for cell and gene therapy companies, spanning from the discovery, development, and testing of innovative drug candidates to scaled-up manufacturing, thereby facilitating their global commercialization. Leveraging its proprietary technologies and automated platforms for molecular discovery, OXGENE integrates a comprehensive suite of technologies required for cell and gene production to deliver rapid, cost-effective, and precise services. The company is recognized for its expertise in designing DNA sequences, optimizing protein expression, developing cell lines, and enhancing viral delivery systems.

WuXi Advanced Therapies, 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 Advanced Therapies empowers global clients to bring more innovative therapies to market sooner, thereby benefiting patients.

WuXi AppTec (Stock Codes: 603259.SH/2359.HK) provides comprehensive, integrated R&D and manufacturing services for new drugs 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 small molecule drugs, the R&D and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies, and medical device testing, among other areas. Currently, WuXi AppTec’s enabling platforms support over 4,100 partners from more than 30 countries in their R&D and innovation projects. The company is dedicated to bringing more new and better medicines to patients worldwide, striving to realize its vision of “making it easy to develop drugs and cure diseases.”