Advance Biotech Grant Program - Is your company eligible for this Merck Award?

Novel gene therapy company VectorY was announced by Merck as the European winner of its 2021 Advance Biotech Grant Program.

“Our goal is to support the biotech community in bringing the next generation of therapies to the clinic, faster and more efficiently,” - Andrew Bulpin.

The Amsterdam-based biotechnology company was chosen for its development of proprietary and partnered programs based on an adeno-associated viruses (AAV) platform targeting muscular and central nervous system diseases with unmet needs.

“Our goal is to support the biotech community in bringing the next generation of therapies to the clinic, faster and more efficiently,” said Andrew Bulpin, head of Process Solutions, Life Science, at Merck. “VectorY’s work could be instrumental in developing potential new treatments for muscular and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Production scale solutions for advanced gene therapy

With plans to build on its vectorised antibodies pipeline and advanced bioprocess technologies to bring high scalability to manufacturing processes for advanced gene therapies, VectorY is aiming to set up its own multi-product Good Manufacturing Practice manufacturing facilities in Amsterdam later this year.

Award will help build upstream activities

Products and consultation support awarded for upsteam processing, filtration and gene therapy manufacturing.

As part of the grant award, the company will receive in-kind Merck products and consultation in upstream processing, sterile and virus filtration, as well as in process development support for gene therapy manufacturing. This award will support acceleration of its candidate development and build further upon the upstream activities already initiated with the Emerging Biotech team at Merck.

 “Winning Merck’s Advance Biotech Grant is an incredible honour,” said Anthony Newcombe, COO of VectorY. “The support from the Life Science business of Merck will help us expedite our technology programs and further production scale solutions for next-generation gene therapy manufacturing.”

Since 2014, Merck’s Advance Biotech Grant Program has awarded technologies and consultation to 32 biotechnology companies. These grants have been used to support biotech companies whose missions are to help patients suffering from cancer, brain tumours, infectious diseases, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disorders.

More information on the program online