Clinical stage oncology drug company Avacta Group plc (AIM:AVCT) reported on Monday that AffyXell, its joint venture with South Korean drug maker Daewoong Pharmaceutical, has expanded its strategic partnership with biopharmaceutical manufacturer GenScript ProBio.

AffyXell and GenScript ProBio entered into a strategic manufacturing partnership in December 2021. It covers AffyXell's first drug development programme and additional future programmes. The partnership includes process development and production of viral vectors required for the production of AffyXell's future cell therapy products. As part of this strategic alliance, GenScript has also now committed to take an equity position in AffyXell at a future funding round. The two companies will collaborate in the area of business development, including potential out-licensing.

AffyXell was established in January 2020 by Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Avacta to develop next-generation cell and gene therapies based on mesenchymal stem cells which incorporate Affimer immunotherapies. Avacta said this new class of stem cell therapy is designed to produce Affimer proteins, in situ in the body, that reduce inflammatory or autoimmune responses to the stem cell therapy, potentially enhancing therapeutic effects.

GenScript ProBio is part of Genscript Biotech Corporation (HKG:1548) and is a global contract development and manufacturing organisation that provides a platform for research and development of biological drugs, DNA plasmids and lentiviruses, as well as for clinical production of cell and gene therapy products.