Contract researcher Charles River Laboratories has been on a roll recently to flesh out its manufacturing arm with a specific focus on its capabilities in gene therapy. Now, the firm is putting its name to a big check for a Maryland-based viral vector firm it thinks will add to its growing expertise in the field.
Charles River announced on May 17, 2021 that it has acquired Vigene Biosciences, a US-based gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), for up to $350 million.
Altimmune has entered into an agreement with Vigene Biosciences to manufacture AdCOVID, Altimmune’s single-dose intranasal vaccine candidate for COVID-19. Vigene, a Rockville, MD-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), specializes in viral vectors and will deploy its capabilities to manufacture AdCOVID. Following recent positive pre-clinical data, Altimmune plans to start a Phase 1 clinical trial of AdCOVID in Q4 2020.