ProBioGen and Transgene have expanded their existing collaboration through an additional licensing agreement covering ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR.pIX suspension cell line technology, aimed at strengthening Transgene’s manufacturing capabilities for virus-based therapies.

The expanded partnership will give Transgene access to the specialised AGE1.CR.pIX platform, which is designed to support efficient and scalable production of viral products. 

The companies said the technology is intended to improve manufacturing productivity while supporting reliable and cost-effective processes as development programmes advance. 

ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR.pIX suspension cell line platform is based on a continuous cell line qualified as a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) master cell bank. It is grown in chemically defined, animal-component-free media, providing a characterised and consistent starting material for manufacturing.

According to ProBioGen, the platform is designed to enable reproducible processes that can be scaled and transferred across manufacturing settings, potentially simplifying the transition from development to larger-scale production.

Alessandro Riva, Chairman and CEO of Transgene, said the additional licence reflects the company’s confidence in ProBioGen’s technology as it prepares to address future clinical manufacturing requirements.

“We are pleased to expand the scope of our activities with ProBioGen. This additional license reflects our confidence in the technology to prepare for future clinical needs at scale,” Riva said.

Volker Sandig, Chief Scientific Officer at ProBioGen, said the company welcomed Transgene’s continued confidence in the AGE1.CR.pIX platform.

“A continuous cell line qualified as a GMP master cell bank, grown in chemically defined and animal-component-free medium, means every batch begins from the same fully characterised starting material,” Sandig said.

He added that the approach provides a foundation for reproducible, scalable and transferable manufacturing processes, allowing partners to focus on their virus-based products rather than the underlying cell substrate.

The expanded collaboration comes as Transgene advances its pipeline of virus-based immunotherapies for cancer and seeks to strengthen manufacturing capabilities to support future clinical development and potential scale-up.