Gene Therapy Manufacturing
Optimizing Process Development For Next-Generation Gene Therapies
8/12/2026 - August 13, 2026 ALL TIMES EDT
Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 11th Annual Gene Therapy Manufacturing conference explores the end-to-end production challenges of increasing yield and purification of novel and late-stage gene therapies. The agenda covers late-stage manufacturing challenges, process development, scale-up and tech transfer, alongside upstream strategies to optimize cell lines, bioprocess efficiency, automation, and high-throughput optimization. Additional sessions address manufacturability of novel capsids and vectors, process intensification, suspension, scale-up, and downstream innovation in recovery, purification, filtration, chromatography, adventitious agent control, and viral safety.
Preliminary Agenda

Session Block

PLENARY SESSION

PLENARY KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
The Correct Way to Bring Digitalization and AI into Biopharmaceutical Quality

Photo of Anthony R. Mire-Sluis, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Quality, Gilead Sciences , SVP , Global Quality , Gilead Sciences
Anthony R. Mire-Sluis, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Quality, Gilead Sciences , SVP , Global Quality , Gilead Sciences

Digitalizing quality systems and artificial intelligence could revolutionize the way we work in quality. However, it needs careful planning and execution to gain the maximum benefits to the business. Appropriate use cases, change management, training, and streamlining processes before you digitalize is essential—adding complexity just results in digital complexity. In addition, the implementation of AI must follow GxP principles in what is currently a vague regulatory framework.

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Fireside Chat with Audience Q & A

Photo of Susan Hynes, Global Head of Quality, GSK , SVP, GSK Global Quality , GSK
Susan Hynes, Global Head of Quality, GSK , SVP, GSK Global Quality , GSK

Panelists:

Photo of Lynn Bottone, Senior Vice President, Quality Operations, Environment Health & Safety, Pfizer Inc. , Senior Vice President Quality, Safety & Environmental Operations , Quality Operations, Environment Health & Safety , Pfizer Inc
Lynn Bottone, Senior Vice President, Quality Operations, Environment Health & Safety, Pfizer Inc. , Senior Vice President Quality, Safety & Environmental Operations , Quality Operations, Environment Health & Safety , Pfizer Inc
Photo of Anthony R. Mire-Sluis, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Quality, Gilead Sciences , SVP , Global Quality , Gilead Sciences
Anthony R. Mire-Sluis, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Quality, Gilead Sciences , SVP , Global Quality , Gilead Sciences

Session Block

MANUFACTURING NEXT-GENERATION GENE THERAPIES

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Directed Evolution of New AAV Vectors for Clinical Gene Therapy

Photo of David V. Schaffer, PhD, Hubbard Howe Jr. Distinguished Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley , Hubbard Howe Jr Distinguished Prof , Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , Univ of California Berkeley
David V. Schaffer, PhD, Hubbard Howe Jr. Distinguished Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley , Hubbard Howe Jr Distinguished Prof , Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , Univ of California Berkeley

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is utilized in numerous FDA-approved gene therapies, though low delivery efficiency limits the success of natural serotypes for the majority of human diseases. For over two decades, we have been implementing directed evolution—the iterative genetic diversification of the viral genome and functional selection for desired properties—to engineer highly optimized, next-generation AAV variants for efficient and targeted delivery to any cell or tissue target. The resulting variants have been effective in both animal models and in numerous human clinical trials to date, and results from both will be discussed.

Advancing AAV Manufacturing with a Next‑Generation Plasmid Platform

Photo of Matt Edwards, Vice President, Process Science, Affinia Therapeutics , VP, Technical Operations , Process Science , Affinia Therapeutics
Matt Edwards, Vice President, Process Science, Affinia Therapeutics , VP, Technical Operations , Process Science , Affinia Therapeutics

This work presents a next-generation plasmid platform engineered to enhance the efficiency, robustness, and scalability of AAV production. By integrating optimized genetic elements with a modular design, the platform increases vector yield and quality while reducing process complexity. This streamlined approach enables more reliable performance across manufacturing scales and offers a transformative solution to meet the growing demand for high-quality AAV therapeutics.

Manufacturing Novel Capsids and Vectors—Case Study from Apertura

Photo of Jorge Santiago-Ortiz, Vice President, CMC & Regulatory Affairs, Apertura Gene Therapy , Vice President, CMC & Regulatory Affairs , CMC & Regulatory Affairs , Apertura Gene Therapy
Jorge Santiago-Ortiz, Vice President, CMC & Regulatory Affairs, Apertura Gene Therapy , Vice President, CMC & Regulatory Affairs , CMC & Regulatory Affairs , Apertura Gene Therapy

This presentation will highlight CMC and bioprocessing considerations for advancing a next-generation AAV capsid designed for intravenous delivery to the brain. Using case studies, the talk will explore process development, analytical strategies, and manufacturing approaches supporting novel vector platforms. Broader themes around scalability, product quality, and preparing emerging AAV technologies for clinical manufacturing. as programs move toward first-in-human studies in 2026, will also be discussed.

Advances in Gene-Therapy Process Development: Case Study From Sangamo

Photo of Phillip Ramsey, Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, Sangamo Therapeutics , SVP , Technical Operations , Sangamo
Phillip Ramsey, Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, Sangamo Therapeutics , SVP , Technical Operations , Sangamo

This presentation will explore the evolving landscape of genome-editing therapeutics and the key considerations required to advance these products toward the clinic. As diverse editing platforms emerge, developers must address challenges spanning design, delivery, manufacturing, and regulatory strategy. The talk will discuss common development considerations and highlight approaches used to evaluate risk, support product characterization, and align CMC strategies with the unique requirements of genome-editing modalities.

OPTIMIZING VIRAL VECTOR PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Innovations in Downstream AAV Purification

Photo of Stephen Soltys, PhD, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Primera Genotech , Chief Manufacturing Officer , Primera Genotech
Stephen Soltys, PhD, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Primera Genotech , Chief Manufacturing Officer , Primera Genotech

Is it possible to level the playing field for process development of AAV gene therapies? If we could standardize AAV purification the way that plasmids or even monoclonal biologics are manufactured, we could focus our attention more toward addressing the real problem of AAV gene therapies. In this presentation, optimized purification methods, from lysis to empty full separation, will be discussed.

Optimizing AAV Upstream Process Development

Photo of Klaudia Szymczak, PhD, Senior Engineer, Upstream Viral Vector Product Development, Alexion , Senior Engineer , Upstream Viral Vector Product Development , Alexion
Klaudia Szymczak, PhD, Senior Engineer, Upstream Viral Vector Product Development, Alexion , Senior Engineer , Upstream Viral Vector Product Development , Alexion

Challenges in Manufacturing Lentiviral Vectors for in vivo Gene Therapy

Photo of Robert Tona, MS, Scientist, In Vivo Process Development, Kite Pharma , Scientist , In Vivo Process Development , Kite Pharma
Robert Tona, MS, Scientist, In Vivo Process Development, Kite Pharma , Scientist , In Vivo Process Development , Kite Pharma

Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are widely used for ex vivo CAR T cell therapy, but patient-specific manufacturing is complex and costly. Recently, LVs engineered to transduce T cells in vivo following intravenous administration have entered clinical studies as off-the-shelf products. LVs used intravenously require higher purity standards. Accordingly, we present process development efforts to reduce residual DNA and optimize yields, emphasizing impurity–LV interactions critical for robust manufacturing.

Transfection Complex Acid Quenching

Photo of Louis Coplan, Process Development Engineer II, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. , Process Dev Engineer II , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc
Louis Coplan, Process Development Engineer II, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. , Process Dev Engineer II , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc

Manufacturing AAV vectors via transient transfection of HEK293 cells depends on timely delivery of transfection complexes to bioreactors. We found plasmid–reagent complex size, which changes with incubation, influences productivity overall. To address this constraint, we developed a method to arrest complex growth at the optimal size, enabling storage up to 2 days with less than 20% change in vector genome titer and less than 5% change in full capsids.

Gene-Therapy rAAV Clinical Manufacturing: Readiness and Challenges

Photo of An-Vy Tran, Gene Therapy Process Engineering Lead, Clinical Manufacturing, UCB Inc. , Gene Therapy Process Engineering Lead , Clinical Mfg , UCB Pharma
An-Vy Tran, Gene Therapy Process Engineering Lead, Clinical Manufacturing, UCB Inc. , Gene Therapy Process Engineering Lead , Clinical Mfg , UCB Pharma

Gene therapy is shifting our perspective on disease treatment with a single-dose life-changing administration. Seamless design, execution, tech transfer, and finetuning of a multi-product clinical facility is one of the key challenges in the field. The ultimate goal is to bring rapidly and with the highest compliance.

OCB and GTH

MIDSTREAM OPERATIONS—POSITIONING FOR DOWNSTREAM SUCCESS

Mid-Stream Bioprocessing of Gene Therapy Vectors: Setting the Stage for Successful Purification

Photo of Stefano Menegatti, PhD, Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University , Professor , Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , North Carolina State Univ
Stefano Menegatti, PhD, Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University , Professor , Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , North Carolina State Univ
Photo of Yixuan Ming, PhD, Downstream Process Development Scientist, Technology Development, Genentech Inc. , Purification Development Senior Scientist , Technology Dev , Genentech Inc.
Yixuan Ming, PhD, Downstream Process Development Scientist, Technology Development, Genentech Inc. , Purification Development Senior Scientist , Technology Dev , Genentech Inc.
Photo of Yaozhong Zhang, PhD, Senior Scientist, Purification Process Development, Genomic Medicine CMC, Sanofi Group , Principal Scientist , Purification Process Dev Genomic Medicine CMC , Sanofi
Yaozhong Zhang, PhD, Senior Scientist, Purification Process Development, Genomic Medicine CMC, Sanofi Group , Principal Scientist , Purification Process Dev Genomic Medicine CMC , Sanofi

In Sanofi’s AAV manufacturing platform, the harvest process typically involves a flocculation step, where mixing plays a critical role. Developing a robust mixing scale‑down model is essential. Floc formation dynamics were characterized in real time using EasyViewer technology. The developed scale‑down model demonstrated excellent predictive performance. Implementation of the optimized flocculation conditions resulted in a two‑fold increase in depth filter throughput.


For more details on the conference, please contact:

Daniel Barry

Senior Conference Director

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: (+44) 7837 651 303

Email: dbarry@healthtech.com

 

For sponsorship information, please contact:

 

Companies A-K

Phillip Zakim-Yacouby

Business Development Manager

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: (+1) 781-247-1815

Email: philzy@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com

 

Companies L-Z

Aimee Croke

Senior Business Development Manager

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: (+1) 781-292-0777

Email: acroke@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com