Iovance Biotherapeutics has selected Avid Bioservices Inc. to provide process development, pilot-batch manufacturing and CGMP manufacturing services to support development of IOV-3001, a novel antibody cytokine engrafted protein.

Cell line development activities for IOV-3001 are currently being conducted by Aragen Bioscience under a subcontracting agreement with Avid. In parallel with cell line development, Avid will commence analytical activities, upstream and downstream process development, and pilot-scale non-GMP manufacturing for IOV-3001. Following completion of these activities, Avid will advance to CGMP manufacturing of IOV-3001 within Avid’s state-of-the-art Myford facility in Tustin, CA.

“We are pleased to be selected by Iovance to provide CDMO services to support the company’s continued advancement in developing novel anti-cancer drug candidates.  As an Interleukin-2/antibody engrafted protein, IOV-3001 is the type of complex therapeutic candidate for which Avid possesses unique process development and manufacturing expertise, illustrated by our 27 years of producing related compounds,” said Timothy Compton, chief commercial officer of Avid. “This new contract award also illustrates the value of Avid’s efforts to establish alliances with key providers of complementary CDMO services such as Aragen.  We are pleased to have them contribute their cell line development expertise to this project.”