The alliance is expected to build on the existing development and marketing agreement made between the two companies in 2010.
As part of the alliance, GE Healthcare’s bioengineers and bioprocessing scientists will work with iBio and CMB researchers to develop a single, flexible facility which could reduce the capital and operating costs of biotherapeutic and vaccine manufacture compared with traditional animal cell and microbial based methods.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences Enterprise Solutions general manager Olivier Loeillot said GE Healthcare Life Sciences is delighted to form the alliance with iBio, which shares the company’s vision of bringing affordable and flexible manufacturing capabilities to the producers of these vital, lifesaving medicines.
”We look forward to continuing our work with the talented teams at iBio and CMB to explore how this innovative technology could become a commercial reality," Loeillot added.
iBio chairman and CEO Robert B.Kay said, "We look forward to working together on the development of a flexible and cost-effective plant-based manufacturing platform that has the potential to assist in the global effort to increase access to biotherapeutics and help reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases."
CMB executive director Dr.Vidadi Yusibov said, "The collective experience and skills of the teams at CMB, iBio and GE Healthcare combined with CMB’s cutting edge pilot facilities in Delaware gives us a great opportunity to accelerate the implementation of this technology."