GE Healthcare and G-Con Manufacturing say they will collaborate on a portable bio-process manufacturing solution for vaccines. GE brings biopharma technology and a global presence; G-Con, its modular cleanroom technology.
GE says in a statement the deal moves it closer to its "vision of modular and possibly mobile flexible biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities--the vaccine factory in a box."
Disposables-based vaccine manufacturing is a fast-moving technology space, and the GE/G-Con play faces worthy adversaries.
G-Con knows this, based on its participation in DARPA's Blue Angel initiative to demonstrate quickened vaccine production through a process involving tobacco plants. Fraunhofer USA and Medicago are also Blue Angel participants.
And Xcellerex will be another competitor. The disposable platform provider announced rapid swine flu production in a test last May with Pfenex and collaborators.
- see the G-Con release