UK pharmaceutical receives £1.9m Innovate UK injection

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This grant will be used by the companies to establish commercial viral vector manufacturing capabilities within the UK as part of their joint investment project (costing £4.8m in total).

The whole project is aimed at developing world leading capabilities for clinical and commercial production of gene and immunotherapy viral vectors for both drug substance and drug product manufacturing.

Additionally, it will support a larger investment in the production capabilities of both companies.

Peter Coleman, chief executive at Cobra Biologics, said: “Cell and gene therapy products are showing tremendous potential in the treatment of patients.

“The successful development and production of viral vectors to deliver these therapies is critical to the success of these products.”

Dr Ian Campbell, director of Health and Life Sciences, Innovate UK, said: “The UK is at the forefront of research into these new therapies, but there is a global shortage in viral vector manufacturing capacity and we need to act to take advantage of the commercial opportunities.

Innovate UK funding for this vital project can help boost this sector and meet the needs of patients in the future.”

Mark Winnington, economic growth leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “Staffordshire is fast becoming a leading location for innovation and the work that Cobra Biologics does clearly demonstrates this.

“The company is located at Keele Science and Innovation Park — the county’s flagship site for key sectors like engineering and biomedical industries.”