Avista Therapeutics Partners with Forge Biologics for AAV Development and cGMP Manufacturing
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Avista Therapeutics has entered a strategic partnership with Forge Biologics.
The collaboration will focus on advancing AVST-101, Avista’s lead gene therapy candidate for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), a serious inherited retinal disorder.
Forge will provide process development, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) manufacturing, toxicology studies, and analytical development services. Avista will also use Forge’s proprietary FUEL™ technologies, including its HEK293 suspension Ignition Cells™ and pEMBR™ 2.0 adenovirus helper plasmid.
All activities will take place at Forge’s 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio.
AVST-101 is designed to treat XLRS through advanced capsid engineering, efficient intravitreal delivery, low-dose efficacy, and wide retinal coverage. The approach aims to offer a safer and more accessible option for patients with inherited retinal diseases.
The partnership combines Avista’s gene therapy expertise with Forge’s specialised manufacturing capabilities, aiming to accelerate the development of AVST-101 and address unmet needs in ocular gene therapy.
Source: avistatx.com
