In a move that signals growing momentum for Australia’s role in advanced therapeutics, Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility has entered into a licensing agreement with global cell and gene therapy specialist OXB, opening the door to critical viral vector technologies and strengthening the nation’s position in a rapidly expanding field.
Announced in Sydney, the agreement grants Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility (VVMF) a worldwide non-exclusive license to OXB’s proprietary inAAVate platform, with an option to expand into the LentiVector platform. This five-year agreement builds on earlier discussions and sets out a framework for technology transfer, operational scale-up, and long-term collaboration between the two organisations.
For VVMF, which positions itself as Australia’s first commercial viral vector contract development and manufacturing organisation, the deal represents a significant step toward establishing domestic capability in a sector historically dominated by overseas providers. Viral vectors are essential delivery systems in cell and gene therapies, underpinning treatments for cancers and rare diseases, and their manufacture requires highly specialised expertise and infrastructure.
Stephen Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of VVMF, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “Access to the OXB platforms gives us a strong foundation as we continue to build our capabilities, leveraging OXB’s expertise and global brand recognition to establish a leadership position in the APAC region. The collaboration will help us accelerate operational readiness and ensure our processes are aligned with recognised industry standards. We look forward to working closely with the OXB team as we establish reliable and scalable manufacturing capabilities.”
The agreement is designed not only to strengthen VVMF’s technical capabilities but also to support broader ambitions of making Australia a regional hub for high-quality cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The company highlights a combination of geopolitical stability, strong intellectual property protections, and generous research and development tax incentives of up to 43 per cent as key advantages for global biopharma companies considering Australia as a development base.
From OXB’s perspective, the partnership extends its global footprint and reinforces its reputation as a leading viral vector CDMO with more than three decades of experience. The company has played a foundational role in the development of cell and gene therapies and continues to support pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients across early-stage development through to commercialisation.
Dr Sébastien Ribault, Chief Business Officer of OXB, described the agreement as both validation and opportunity, saying, “This agreement is a strong endorsement of OXB’s position as a world-leading viral vector CDMO. It demonstrates the robustness and adaptability of our platforms, technologies, and quality systems, enabling other organisations to benefit from the high standards we’ve established in viral vector manufacturing. Partnering with VVMF not only gives us a strategic foothold in Australia but also creates a launchpad to serve clients across the APAC region, further strengthening the global foundation for reliable AAV and lentiviral vector production."
With facilities and expertise spanning the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, OXB brings established technologies, including advanced lentiviral systems and scalable AAV production methods. Integrating these capabilities into Australia’s emerging manufacturing ecosystem could shorten development timelines and reduce risk for companies seeking to bring new therapies to the clinic.