Cobra Biologics enters collaboration with University of Manchester scientist

International contract manufacturing organization Cobra Biologics and a professor of biotechnology at the University of Manchester in the UK have announced a two year collaboration to improve the understanding of cellular bioprocessing for the scaled production of therapeutic proteins.

Cobra has teamed up with Alan Dickson on the project, which is supported by the Flexible Interchange Program (FLIP) scheme from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The agreement will allow Cobra to access the University of Manchester’s internationally renowned academic and associated research group, while Prof Dickson will benefit from Cobra’s production data and operational knowledge of industrial manufacturing processes.

Daniel Smith, chief scientific officer of Cobra, said: “This is an exciting and unique opportunity for Cobra Biologics to gain scientific and technological insights from one of the senior UK academics working in the bioprocessing area. In addition, Professor Dickson has links and collaborations with UK and international academics, addressing all aspects of production of biopharmaceuticals. The insights of Professor Dickson into the various processes and tools used, combined with historical data case studies undertaken by Cobra Biologics, will allow better definition and enhancement of our current manufacturing processes and to build towards the idealised platforms and processes for future manufacture of innovator and biosimilar molecules.”