Meeting on the Mesa 2021 | Manufacturing challenges in the advanced therapies sector

Sue Washer, Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, Alachua, FL, outlines issues associated with manufacturing cell and gene therapies. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has affected the supply chain within the sector, as many materials and hardware are needed in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, limiting the supply for advanced therapy manufacturers. In the ophthalmological space, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) cannot replicate themselves, limiting their capability as vectors in gene therapies for various conditions including X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and achromatopsia. This interview took place at Meeting on the Mesa 2021.