Funding boost to improve manufacturing of viral vaccines

OVO Biomanufacturing, a spin-out company from Coventry University and the University of Warwick, has successfully secured £100,000 of funding from the Greater Manchester and Chester Life Sciences Fund (managed by Catapult Ventures).

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for technologies that allow rapid development and distribution of both new and established vaccines, and this funding boost will allow rapid expansion in this area.

The OVO team – which includes Dr Phillip Gould (Associate Head of School for Enterprise and Innovation for the faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University, and CSO for OVO Biomanufacturing), Dr Tim Francis (Business Development Manager at the University of Warwick) and Dr William Collier (CEO of OVO Biomanufacturing) – will be developing digital solutions to improve the manufacturing efficiency for viral vaccines and gene therapies.

OVO’s technology allows manufacturers to maximise the production of the target virus that is grown to produce a vaccine or therapy. Enhancing the efficiency of manufacturing can improve yield, cut lead times and costs, and maximise distribution. This is essential when rising to the challenge of current and future pandemics.

Visit the OVO Biomanufacturing website to find out more about their work.