CAMBRIDGE, UK and INDIANAPOLIS, IN — August 26, 2026
4basebio PLC and Genezen announced an expanded, non-exclusive strategic collaboration aimed at supporting next-generation viral vector manufacturing for cell and gene therapy programs. The commercial collaboration combines 4basebio’s synthetic, cell-free DNA technology with Genezen’s expertise in viral vector development and manufacturing, creating a more streamlined pathway for drug developers from early-stage research through clinical and commercial manufacturing. Under the agreement, Genezen will provide developers with access to 4basebio’s Research Use Only, High-Quality and GMP-grade hpDNA programs specifically developed for viral vector applications. The collaboration addresses a key manufacturing requirement for the growing gene therapy sector, where efficient, scalable and reliable DNA starting materials can influence development timelines, manufacturing processes and the transition of programs toward clinical development.
Synthetic DNA Supports Viral Vector Manufacturing
4basebio’s enzymatic cell-free DNA platform is designed to overcome several limitations associated with conventional plasmid DNA manufacturing. Its manufacturing process eliminates bacterial backbone sequences and antibiotic resistance genes from the DNA starting material, providing synthetic DNA specifically suited for applications such as viral vector production. In AAV manufacturing, 4basebio reports that its hpDNA template has demonstrated comparable titers to plasmid DNA while requiring approximately 30% less DNA mass and transfection reagent. This reduction could help decrease material requirements and associated manufacturing costs while supporting process efficiency. For cell and gene therapy developers, access to application-specific DNA materials through a viral vector CDMO can also simplify development workflows by reducing the need to separately coordinate DNA technology and vector manufacturing activities. The expanded collaboration therefore focuses strongly on connecting synthetic DNA technology with practical viral vector manufacturing capabilities, rather than simply adding another technology option to the supply chain.
Collaboration Targets Faster Gene Therapy Development
The partnership is structured to give gene therapy developers access to synthetic DNA across multiple development stages, including research, development and clinical manufacturing. A major potential advantage of cell-free DNA production is the ability to shorten production timelines compared with traditional plasmid manufacturing. Faster DNA availability can help developers move more efficiently from genetic sequence design to viral vector production and subsequent preclinical or clinical activities. Genezen brings more than a decade of experience in viral vector development and manufacturing, providing the manufacturing infrastructure needed to translate DNA inputs into vector-based products. By combining these capabilities, the companies aim to help developers establish manufacturing strategies that can support programs as they progress toward later-stage development. Scalability and manufacturing readiness are increasingly important as gene therapies move from early research into clinical and commercial programs, making the integration of synthetic DNA and viral vector manufacturing a strategically relevant development.
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Cell-Free DNA Platform Expands Genetic Medicine Potential
The expanded collaboration also highlights the broader role of synthetic DNA as an enabling technology for genetic medicines. 4basebio develops enzymatically produced DNA and mRNA using a cell-free manufacturing approach, with applications spanning gene therapy, genome editing, mRNA production and DNA vaccines. Its GMP-grade synthetic DNA is intended to provide developers with greater control over DNA quality, production speed and scalability. Genezen, meanwhile, specializes in viral vector manufacturing and supports innovators developing cell and gene therapies from early development through commercial-scale manufacturing. The companies said the collaboration will help create more efficient manufacturing strategies from the outset of development. Importantly, the agreement does not represent clinical validation of a specific therapy; it is a manufacturing collaboration intended to support developers working on viral vector-based programs. As the cell and gene therapy industry continues to mature, access to scalable and fit-for-purpose starting materials could become increasingly important for translating promising genetic medicine technologies into clinical and commercial manufacturing.
Source:4basebio press relese
