Wacker, Gearbox Biosciences to Develop Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Technologies

Next-Generation Solutions Wacker, Gearbox Biosciences to Develop Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Technologies

2025-08-14 Source: Press release Wacker 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

Wacker Chemie AG

Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH

Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH

Angst+Pfister AG

Under a strategic collaboration between Wacker and Gearbox Biosciences, both the companies will work together to accelerate the development of next-generation plasmid DNA (a critical raw material for advanced medicines) manufacturing technologies.

In San Diego, Wacker operates microbial fermentation lines with a capacity of up to 650 liters for production and purification of pDNA. After a successful evaluation process, the CDMO production of antibiotic-free pDNA is likely to be carried out here. (Source: Wacker) — In San Diego, Wacker operates microbial fermentation lines with a capacity of up to 650 liters for production and purification of pDNA. After a successful evaluation process, the CDMO production of antibiotic-free pDNA is likely to be carried out here.
(Source: Wacker)

Munich/Germany – High-quality pDNA serves as a foundational source of genetic information in the development of life-saving therapies, yet current manufacturing processes face challenges in terms of scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. By combining Wacker’s expertise in GMP manufacturing of biologics, including pDNA, with Gearbox Bioscience’s innovative solutions for antibiotic-free plasmid proliferation, this collaboration seeks to address these challenges while aiming to set new industry standards.

“We are thrilled to partner with Gearbox Biosciences to accelerate the development of next-generation plasmid DNA manufacturing technologies,” said Ralph Krafczyk, nucleic acids expert at Wacker R&D. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to continuously enhance our proprietary Plasmitec toolbox in order to provide even greater benefits to our clients, who develop cutting edge therapies that are aimed at improving the life of patients worldwide.”

Wacker previously developed an antibiotic-free system for recombinant pharmaceutical protein, leveraging its Esetec (E. coli secretion technology) platform. The joint effort with GEA will focus on innovative workflows for antibiotic-free plasmid DNA manufacturing and difficult-to-produce pDNA products. By leveraging the complementary strengths of both partners, the collaboration is focused on delivering solutions that are more sustainable than current technologies, while also providing superior quality and reduced timelines.

Stay up to Date

Do you want the latest news, specialist articles and information on new products? Then you can register for our free newsletter:

Choose your Newsletter

“We are excited to collaborate with Wacker to bring newly developed technology from the lab to industrial scale,” said Arvi Jõers, co-founder and CEO of Gearbox Biosciences. “Our proprietary Pop-Out-Plasmid technology is already in use in antibiotic-free protein production and now we are applying it to plasmid production as well. Eliminating the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance through pDNA is a great relief for regulatory agencies and society.”

The collaboration is already underway, with initial milestones including the evaluation of Gearbox Biosciences innovative Pop-Out-Plasmid technology within the Plasmitec toolbox. Both partners are committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, with the shared goal of advancing the field of biologics manufacturing to improve the accessibility of raw materials for the development and application of next-generation therapies, and to facilitate clinical translation from bench to bedside. The recently opened Wacker Biotechnology Center at Wacker’s central research and development site in Munich offers excellent conditions for this project.

(ID:50515962)

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.