Partnership Formed: Wacker and Gearbox Biosciences Collaborate in Plasmid DNA Production
In a significant development for the biotechnology industry, Wacker Chemie and Gearbox Biosciences have joined forces to advance plasmid DNA manufacturing technologies at Wacker's research site in Munich. The collaboration, which commenced in 2025, aims to set new industry standards and contribute to the development and application of next-generation therapies.
The Wacker Biotechnology Center, located at Wacker's central research and development site in Munich, will be the hub of this collaboration. Wacker, with its expertise in GMP manufacturing of biologics, including pDNA, will work in tandem with Gearbox Bioscience, a company renowned for its antibiotic-free protein production technology, the Pop-Out-Plasmid technology.
The Pop-Out-Plasmid technology is now being applied to plasmid production, offering solutions for antibiotic-free plasmid proliferation. This collaboration is expected to improve the accessibility of raw materials for next-generation therapy development and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Ralph Krafczyk, PhD, a nucleic acids expert at Wacker R&D, and Arvi Joõers, PhD, the co-founder and CEO of Gearbox Biosciences, will spearhead the collaboration. The initial milestones of the collaboration involve the evaluation of Gearbox Biosciences' Pop-Out-Plasmid technology within Wacker's PLASMITEC toolbox.
The elimination of antibiotic resistance through pDNA is a relief for regulatory agencies and society. This collaboration seeks to facilitate clinical translation from bench to bedside, aiming to set new industry standards and advance plasmid DNA manufacturing technologies. The partners share a common goal of improving the field of biologics manufacturing to benefit society.
Krafczyk stated that the collaboration aims to provide greater benefits to clients. The partners are committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, with the goal of advancing the field of biologics manufacturing. This collaboration is expected to contribute to the development and application of next-generation therapies, improving the accessibility of raw materials for next-generation therapy development, and setting new industry standards.
