Gene Therapy Hits a Peculiar Roadblock: A Virus Shortage

Many new gene therapies in development and clinical trials right now use viruses such as lentiviruses or adenoviruses as vectors to deliver genes. There is potentially billions of dollars at stake in this industry. However, there is one critical shortage: the viruses.

Currently, it is incredibly expensive to manufacture the viruses. On top of that, there are a limited number of facilities available to manufacture these viruses. Biotech firms that want to have their batch of viruses often have to book slots in the manufacturing queue years in advance in order to develop their products. On the research end, innovation is also being delayed by a shortage of viruses even on the experimental level.

All of this is leading to crippling delays in the bringing of gene therapies to the market. Additionally, it is also making the costs of these treatments commercially unviable.

Gene Therapy Hits a Peculiar Roadblock: A Virus Shortage

~Scarlett