Transcenta Therapeutics and WuXi Biologics have entered a technology licensing and strategic collaboration agreement covering Transcenta’s HiCB continuous bioprocessing platform and ExcelPro cell-culture media.
Under the agreement, Transcenta and its subsidiary HJB will grant WuXi Biologics and its affiliates a non-exclusive license to certain technologies associated with the platforms. Transcenta will receive an upfront payment of RMB 10 million, or about $1.4 million, and may receive additional milestone payments if specified conditions are met.
The companies did not disclose the potential value or terms of the milestone payments, the duration of the license, or whether licensed technologies will be used for specific customer programs.
WuXi Biologics will also become Transcenta’s strategic partner for chemistry, manufacturing and controls development and for support of molecules across Transcenta’s development pipeline.
Transcenta’s Highly Intensified Continuous Bioprocessing, or HiCB, platform combines intensified continuous perfusion for upstream production with hybrid continuous downstream purification. The process is intended to increase manufacturing productivity relative to conventional fed-batch operations.
The platform uses shorter residence times and controlled culture conditions in an effort to maintain product quality. Transcenta said the system may reduce cost of goods, lower capital spending requirements and support more flexible manufacturing. It may also be used to improve recovery yields and product quality for complex biologic medicines.
ExcelPro is Transcenta’s cell-culture media technology and is included in the non-exclusive license granted to WuXi Biologics.
The deal is part of Transcenta’s effort to license its HiCB platform externally and form partnerships for its use in developing and manufacturing complex biologics. The company said it intends to pursue further licensing and industry collaborations for the platform.