Portfolio company Virica Biotech made two recent collaboration announcements highlighting the industry embracing their cell enhancing platform for improving adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) production.  Virica and eXmoor Pharma announced a new collaboration project funded by a joint UK-Canada government initiative.  This project aims to enhance the manufacturing of AAVs crucial for gene therapies, ultimately reducing costs and improving the accessibility of life-saving therapies. 

Virica also announced a strategic partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks aimed at improving AAV gene therapy production. Virica will provide a panel of its Viral Sensitizer Enhancers (VSETM) to Ginkgo for high-throughput AAV production screening, while Ginkgo will utilize its advanced screening platform to test VSEs directly in clients’ cell lines.