ViroCell Biologics and AvenCell Therapeutics partner to accelerate allogeneic CAR-T therapy development
Ella Day | July 29, 2025 | News story | Contract Manufacturing, Manufacturing Services, Mergers and Acquisitions, Research and Development | AvenCell Therapeutics, CAR-T therapy, Contract Development Manufacturing Organisation, Good Manufacturing Practice, Immunology, Oncology, ViroCell Biologics, autoimmune diseases, blood cancer
ViroCell Biologics has announced a new manufacturing collaboration with AvenCell Therapeutics to produce a high-yield retroviral vector supporting the clinical development of AVC-203, a new allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy targeting blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
AVC-203 is AvenCell’s second investigational ‘off-the-shelf’ CAR-T product and is engineered to address both graft vs host disease and host immune rejection. Designed for rapid administration and broader access, the therapy targets CD19 and CD20 antigens and incorporates AvenCell’s RevCAR receptor, allowing flexible in vivo control and redirection of T-cell activity.
By integrating AvenCell’s acquired cell line into its Good Manufacturing Practice manufacturing process, ViroCell produced a vector critical to the AVC-203 programme, which is expected to enter a phase 1 trial in relapsed/refractory B cell lymphoma patients in the second half of 2025.
“We are thrilled to support AvenCell’s platform and help accelerate this new therapy into the clinic,” said John Hadden, CEO of ViroCell.
AvenCell CEO, Andrew Schiermeier, commented: “ViroCell’s execution has been exceptional and the delivery of this vector validates our confidence in their capabilities.”
The collaboration underscores the growing demand for scalable CAR-T therapies and the importance of advanced Contract Development Manufacturing Organisation partnerships in driving development.
Ella Day
29/7/25
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