Cytiva launches exosome manufacturing challenge to advance next-generation therapies

Cytiva launches the “Exosome Challenge,” an industry challenge to overcome hurdles in exosome production and manufacturing. The challenge will focus on the standard workflow, in three focus areas:

Cell engineering: Developing innovative technologies to engineer cell lines that can produce exosomes with specific cargo.
Process development:   Creating the novel culture systems, media, reagents, and analytics needed to develop robust processes.
Purification:  Streamlining exosome purification and reducing drug product loss during downstream processing.

The winning proposal will receive an award of up to a USD 100 000 in services and support from Cytiva’s Fast Trak team to advance their ideas.

Catarina Flyborg, Vice President, Cell and Gene Therapy, says: “Collaboration is key to advancing novel therapeutics. While we have had a lot of success with CAR T, we must always be working to identify and develop the next generation of therapies.”

Applicants from universities, academic research centers, institutes, and biotechnology companies, within the US and Canada, may submit proposals through March 5, 2021. Finalists will be chosen at the end of Q2 2021. All submissions will be judged on relevancy and their potential to meet future technology needs and challenges. The winner will have access to Cytiva’s Fast Trak services and experts who will help to bring their vision to reality.

Exosomes are nanosized particles that have the potential to deliver drugs, proteins, and various nucleic acids to disease targets. While CAR T has driven a lot of industry growth, exosomes are showing promise for drug delivery, such as mRNA based therapies.

About Cytiva

Cytiva is a global life sciences leader with more than 7,000 associates across 40 countries dedicated to advancing and accelerating therapeutics. As a trusted partner to customers that range in scale and scope, Cytiva brings speed, efficiency and capacity to research and manufacturing workflows, enabling the development, manufacture and delivery of transformative medicines to patients.