Dinamiqs, a Siegfried Group company specializing in the design and manufacture of viral vectors, has inaugurated its new cGMP production facility. The facility enables end-to-end manufacturing of viral vector gene therapies, from the molecular design phase to aseptic filling of the drug, and integrates research, development, and clinical and commercial production under one roof. With the start of operations, Siegfried is strengthening its position in the fast-growing market for cell and gene therapies. Dinamiqs also announced a partnership with Seal Therapeutics to jointly develop and manufacture a gene therapy for muscular dystrophy.

State-of-the-art cGMP facility for viral vectors

The company also announced a partnership with Seal Therapeutics to jointly develop and manufacture a gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. The new, state-of-the-art facility at the Zurich Bio-Technopark is the first of its kind in Switzerland. New laboratory space has been in operation since the third quarter of 2024. The cGMP facility covers 2,500 square meters and combines research, clinical and commercial production of viral vectors with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters. A modular, segregated design and modern, closed single-use technologies ensure strict containment, short turnaround times and full GMP compliance.

Comments on the opening of Dinamiqs

Marcel Imwinkelried, CEO of Siegfried, emphasizes: "Since acquiring the startup in 2023, Siegfried’s ambition has been to bring Dinamiqs’ capabilities to commercial scale and establish it as a leading CDMO in the cell and gene therapy space. With the opening of the new manufacturing facility and growing customer demand, we are well on track to achieving this goal.“

Focus on scalability and efficiency

Martin Kessler, CEO of Dinamiqs, adds: ”One of the biggest challenges that cell and gene therapy developers face today is scalability in process development and manufacturing. With the design of our facilities in Zurich, we enable our customers to get everything they need from one partner and one location. We offer lead optimization, R&D production and now also clinical and commercial supply - saving customers time and money when bringing their therapies to patients."

Strategic collaboration between Dinamiqs and Seal Therapeutics

During the inauguration, Dinamiqs and Seal Therapeutics announced their intention to enter into a strategic collaboration. Seal Therapeutics, a spin-off of the University of Basel's Biozentrum, is developing a gene therapy for the treatment of LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy. This rare disease begins in childhood, leads to progressive muscle wasting, and currently has no approved treatment options.

Support for clinical development

The research team led by Professor Markus Rüegg, Dr. Judith Reinhard, and Dr. Thomas Meier is being supported by experts from Dinamiqs to transfer the production of their gene therapy from laboratory scale to clinical development. Markus Rüegg, CEO of Seal Therapeutics, adds: “To advance our viral vector-based gene therapy toward clinical application, we chose Dinamiqs for their specific expertise with the vector we require, their large-scale production capabilities, and their collaborative approach as a trusted Swiss-based partner.”