Could you provide us with a historical overview of Cytiva, particularly highlighting its evolution from GE and its contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry?
Cytiva joined the Danaher family of global science and technology businesses in 2020, following a divestment from General Electric (GE). Cytiva's roots extend even farther back, with a notable inception in the production of filtration paper under the brand Whatman, a business founded in 1733. Throughout its history, Cytiva has enabled its customers to discover, manufacture, and deliver biologic therapies - in all their forms – to patients.
Cytiva’s heritage includes global collaborations with academia, customers, and industry partners, as well as organically innovating technologies that have supported the development and manufacture of various biologics, including insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and a plethora of vaccines and therapies that have shaped modern medicine.
The breadth of Cytiva's impact is perhaps most vividly illustrated by its contributions to the development of biological therapies approved by the US FDA. By 2019, over 75% of such therapies relied on Cytiva's technologies.
With gene and cell therapies at the forefront of modern medicine, how does Cytiva contribute to making these advanced treatments more widely available?
The advent of gene and cell therapies, as well as mRNA technology, represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of complex diseases.
What we've seen the past 10 years (and especially with the COVID vaccines) is the scientific demonstration that these therapies have great impact.
The history of biologics is mostly about moderating disease, but cell and gene therapies can be curative and that's why they generate so much excitement.
The challenge is how you make them accessible to patients, managing the cost of manufacturing, and speed of development. How do you accelerate regulatory approval and maintain quality? Between 2017 and 2022, five different gene therapies have been approved by the FDA and in 2023 alone, five other therapies in the genomic medicine space have been approved. That’s an incredible pace but how can we scale up? You cannot conduct clinical trials on advanced therapies the way you do for large scale, because the population is so small.
Through collaborations with industry leaders, research institutions, and innovative biotech firms, Cytiva has actively contributed to overcoming the scientific and logistical hurdles that have historically impeded the widespread adoption of these therapies.
When you think about the healthcare challenges around biologics, it is around consistency of manufacturing and reducing the cost of manufacturing while moving fast.
Two examples of innovation Cytiva has brought about have to do with the automation of CAR T and viral vector manufacturing. CAR T therapies are expensive because making them is so labor-intensive, and they are hard to scale. Thinking in modular terms, Cytiva has designed a platform that helps automate and increase output.
The other innovation tackles the challenge of costs for gene therapy. One gene therapy can cost as much as USD 2.5 million (Reuters). Cytiva focused on the cell line, and how to effectively create the virus to make the gene therapy to treat patients, cost-effectively and in a reproducible way. To offer a stable cell line for customers, Cytiva acquired a company called CEVEC in Germany.
Cytiva's strategy extends beyond organic and inorganic investments. It encompasses a comprehensive approach that includes dedicated R&D efforts focused on cell therapy, gene therapy, and mRNA technologies. Reducing the complexity and cost of manufacturing makes these groundbreaking treatments more accessible to patients worldwide.
How does Cytiva integrate sustainable practices into its operations and industry-wide initiatives?
Industry-wide dialogues and partnerships are essential to drive positive progress in sustainability. Whether a supplier, customer, or pharma company, Cytiva encourages industry partners to share best practices and advocate for policies that support environmental stewardship in the biopharmaceutical sector.
We and our parent company Danaher have committed to Net Zero targets by 2050. But importantly, any approach to sustainability must be multifaceted, encompassing efforts to minimize environmental footprint while promoting sustainable practices throughout the biopharmaceutical supply chain. Every player must look at reducing waste, conserving energy, and optimizing the use of resources.
For example, Cytiva's next-generation protein purification systems are designed with sustainability in mind, from collaborating with customers to handle plastics at end-of-life, to optimizing the energy efficiency of the equipment. By focusing on the entire lifecycle of its products, Cytiva aims to help its customers achieve their sustainability goals while advancing the broader objective of reducing the environmental impact of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Another example is in packaging. Cytiva has begun a global effort to fully remove polystyrene and replace it with a plant-based packaging material by 2025. The new packaging and distribution method will prevent the equivalent of 71 shipping containers filled with polystyrene from ending up in landfills.
Looking ahead, what’s the future landscape of biomanufacturing and the accessibility of advanced therapies?
Advancing the next generation of therapeutics isn’t based on scientific advancement alone. Future biomanufacturing will increase in its complexity, as new therapeutic modalities emerge and the demand for personalized medicine grows. Collaboration between industry, academia, and government bodies must work together to create accelerated, efficient pathways for drug developers.
