For scientists, getting access to complex DNA has historically been challenging. Scientists themselves, our founders experienced the frustrations first-hand, which is why they were driven to develop a more effective and efficient solution. In doing so, we are excited to work with companies like Touchlight, an innovation-led Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) in London, UK. Touchlight has developed a novel, synthetic DNA vector (doggybone DNA or dbDNA™) that enables cell-free enzymatic GMP scale-up processes for genetic medicines.
Touchlight’s clients require complex sequences for making viral vectors (lentivirus and AAVs), neoantigens, and other genetically encoded active pharmaceutical ingredients that include a range of features that make them difficult to synthesize. In order to produce these sequences at scale, Touchlight first needs an initial DNA template having the complex sequences that they insert into their dbDNA™ vector.
In Touchlight’s most recent project with Ansa, they sent us a sequence encoding a neoantigen expression cassette. Their customers are working on personalized cancer vaccines, whereby they take a piece of a cancer patient’s tumor, sequence it to identify patient-specific neoantigens, and then design and manufacture the vaccine based on those neoantigen sequences. Turnaround time (TAT) is critical to get the patient their life-saving vaccine as fast as possible.
Gene synthesis can often be a lengthy process, especially for complex genes. One of Touchlight’s ongoing milestones to facilitate fast turnaround on complex genes has been to determine the quickest way to get complex templates in hand. With Ansa, they could assemble delivered complex DNA fragments notably faster than other vendors were able to deliver a full construct. Through the success of our partnership, we have been able to demonstrate reliable and timely delivery of all their complex sequences, so much so that they are expanding with us as we begin full commercial availability.
“Rapid delivery of challenging sequences is increasingly important in the advanced therapy manufacturing industry.” said Dr. Alexander Cotton, Sr. Scientist at Touchlight. “With Ansa, we are now able to reliably receive complex fragments at scale and with fast turnaround times.”