Recipharm and CanVirex Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapies
CUXHAVEN, Germany – Global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Recipharm and Swiss biotechnology innovator CanVirex have officially initiated a collaborative project to scale up the manufacturing of next-generation oncolytic virus immunotherapies. The partnership focuses on transferring CanVirex’s specialized Vero cell and measles virus manufacturing process to Recipharm’s state-of-the-art facility in Cuxhaven, Germany.
The collaboration marks a critical milestone in CanVirex’s efforts to move its proprietary oncolytic measles virus platform from the lab toward clinical-grade production. The company is currently developing a pipeline of therapies designed to infiltrate and destroy tumors directly, while simultaneously triggering a robust, localized immune response. Their lead candidate, which incorporates interleukin-12 (IL-12), is specifically engineered to target difficult-to-treat solid tumors—a sector of oncology that historically shows limited response to traditional immunotherapy treatments.
The transition to the Cuxhaven site follows a successful series of feasibility studies spearheaded by Recipharm. These initial assessments allowed the teams to establish development cell and virus banks, confirming that the CanVirex platform is technically compatible with large-scale manufacturing workflows. Moving forward, the partners are shifting focus to process development runs. This phase is designed to optimize a microcarrier-based bioreactor process, ensuring that the manufacturing techniques are both scalable and reliable for future clinical trials and eventual commercialization.
CanVirex selected Recipharm specifically for its specialized expertise in handling complex biological materials. Oncolytic viruses are notoriously difficult to manufacture, often characterized as large, “hard-to-filter” molecules that require high-precision aseptic processing. By consolidating the development and manufacturing stages under a single partner, CanVirex aims to minimize technology-transfer risks, accelerate development timelines, and establish a clear, efficient path to achieving Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) clinical supply.
“This collaboration reflects Recipharm’s commitment to supporting innovative oncolytic virus developers like CanVirex from process development through to GMP manufacture,” said Greg Behar, CEO of Recipharm. “Our experience with aseptic processing of large, hard-to-filter viruses makes us a trusted partner for CanVirex in advancing this important programme for patients with advanced solid tumours.”
The work being conducted at the Cuxhaven facility leverages the site’s dedicated infrastructure for viral vector and oncolytic virus development. Beyond the bioreactor process, the site provides a comprehensive suite of services, including GMP manufacturing, sterile fill-finish operations, and advanced analytical testing—capabilities that are vital for navigating the complex regulatory requirements of viral immunotherapy development.
As the project enters this intensive process development phase, both companies remain focused on creating a stable, scalable foundation that can meet the rigorous demands of upcoming clinical studies. For the patients suffering from hard-to-treat solid tumors, the partnership signifies a meaningful step toward bringing potentially life-saving immunotherapies to market.
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