The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) announced Achilles Therapeutics will manufacture their advanced therapy products for clinical trials in one of the newly operational modules at the CGT Catapult manufacturing center.
The CGT Catapult manufacturing center has remained operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritize the production of patient batches manufactured for clinical supply, and the facility is continuing to support companies as they accelerate their operations.
Achilles is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer immunotherapies targeting clonal neoantigens: protein markers unique to each individual that are expressed on the surface of every cancer cell. Achilles uses DNA sequencing data from each patient, together with a proprietary bioinformatics platform, to identify clonal neoantigens specific to that patient, enabling the development of personalized cell therapies. Targeting multiple clonal neoantigens that are present on all cancer cells, but absent on healthy cells, allows individualized treatments to target and destroy tumors, without harming healthy tissues and minimizing tumor escape. Achilles has two ongoing clinical studies, in advanced non-small cell lung cancer and recurrent metastatic melanoma.
Achilles is the first company to occupy one of the new modules, part of an expansion of the CGT Catapult manufacturing center completed in September 2019 which has doubled its capacity. The additional six segregated modules are now fully operational, helping to meet exceptional demand for collaboration at the center and support the growing UK cell and gene therapy industry.
By establishing their manufacturing process at the CGT Catapult manufacturing center, Achilles will have access to the GMP facilities, supply chain and expertise to enable them to expand their manufacturing capabilities and support clinical studies of their innovative cell therapy products.
“We are excited that this collaboration with CGT Catapult will enable us to increase our GMP manufacturing capacity as we progress our ongoing clinical trials. The opportunity to occupy a dedicated module with access to key support services and expertise will enable Achilles to establish a manufacturing platform to drive our growing pipeline,” Dr. Edward Samuel, SVP Manufacturing, Achilles Therapeutics said.
“We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Achilles Therapeutics, the latest pioneering company to choose the CGT Catapult manufacturing center and surrounding ecosystem to develop their products. By working with Achilles, we hope to further the development of their highly promising pipeline products, and in doing so help to address an unmet medical need for patients,” Matthew Durdy, CEO, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult said. This collaboration also represents the first company to occupy one of the new modules at the center, an expansion which has been driven by strong Government and European Regional Development Fund support and will enable us to continue to play a pivotal role for growth in the UK industry moving forward.”
The CGT Catapult manufacturing center has been backed by over £75m of funding, including investment from the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Innovate UK and from the European Regional Development Fund.