Model Predictive Control for Improved Product Quality in the Production of Viral Vectors

Viral vectors are considered the vehicle of choice in gene therapies and gene-modified cell therapies to deliver genetic material into a specific cell. However, viral vector production can represent up to 40% of the cost of goods for gene-modified cell therapies. Vector production processes can be inconsistent in how many virus capsids actually get filled with the target DNA material, rendering many of the viral capsids with no therapeutic value. Current production processes remove empty capsids from the viral harvest through additional purification steps, adding cost, time, and complexity, while reducing viral yields.

In collaboration with Artemis Biosystems, Sanofi, and Sartorius, we are using mechanistic modeling to improve vector production and purification processes. This project will result in improvements in viral vector product quality and reduced production costs which are needed to enable large-scale adoption of gene therapies.