Cobra Biologics, a Keele, UK-headquartered contract development and manufacturing organization for biologics and pharmaceuticals, plans to invest up to £15 million ($19 million) over the next two years to expand biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations at its sites in the UK and Sweden. The investment involves a phased expansion plan that supports the company’s research and development activities in developing viral vector and DNA plasmid production platforms.

The initial phase, which will be in the UK, will extend the company’s viral vector Phase III and commercial manufacturing capabilities. The second phase, to be conducted in Sweden, will double capacity for high quality DNA plasmid production and characterization for supporting early clinical-phase adeno-associated virus and lentivirus manufacture that is used for making chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The third phase of investment will include the addition of larger clinical and commercial capabilities for GMP DNA production.

Source: Cobra Biologics