ProBioGen, an internationally operating technology provider and CDMO, has signed an agreement with Emergent BioSolutions for a non-exclusive commercial multi-product license and option agreement under which Emergent will be granted broad access to ProBioGen’s avian AGE1.CR cell line. Previously, ProBioGen had granted an exclusive license to Emergent for four indications and also conducted process development work for Emergent.

As a result of the new agreement, ProBioGen’s relationship with Emergent is now extended to include additional infectious disease targets, with the option to expand to numerous further indications. The commercial licenses include milestones and royalty payments. Financial details were not disclosed.

Volker Sandig, chief scientific officer noted: “Innovative medicines against infectious diseases are urgently needed. We are convinced that the combination of ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR cell line for production of MVA-based vaccines together with Emergent’s product development, manufacturing and marketing expertise will yield novel preventive and therapeutic products."

AGE1.CR is an immortalized cell line derived from primary cells of a Muscovy Duck. The cell line was created as a platform for replacing primary chicken cells for production of vaccines and hyper-attenuated viruses in chemically defined media and suspension cultures. In addition, AGE1.CR cells are also suitable for the generation of trans-complementing helper or packaging cell lines to support efficient production of replication-restricted viral vectors.