Oxford Genetics

Oxford Genetics Ltd., which rebranded to OXGENE™ and now operates as a WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU) company, functions as a contract research and development organization focused on the cell and gene therapy sectors. The company was founded in 2011 by Dr. Ryan Cawood, who holds a first-class degree in Genetics and a D.Phil. from Oxford University in molecular virology and oncology. His background in genetic engineering and molecular biology guided the company's direction towards developing scalable solutions for manufacturing complex biologics.

Initially, the firm's foundation was its patented SnapFast™ technology, a platform designed to make genetic engineering more efficient by using Lego-like DNA building blocks. Over time, the business model evolved from being product-based to providing high-quality, custom precision engineering services with subsequent licensing deals. The company specializes in DNA design, protein expression optimization, and cell line development technologies. It serves a B2B clientele, primarily pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, by offering solutions for gene therapy drug discovery, antibody therapy development, and CRISPR gene editing. Revenue is generated through these custom services and downstream licensing of its proprietary technologies.

OXGENE's core services revolve around addressing complex challenges in biotherapy through a combination of novel genetic design, bioinformatics, and automation. The company provides mammalian cell engineering solutions, including large-scale gene editing programs and cell line development projects for gene therapy. Key proprietary technologies include the TESSA™ system for adeno-associated viral (AAV) manufacturing and XLenti™ stable solutions for lentiviral production, both designed to simplify and reduce the costs of manufacturing. In March 2021, Oxford Genetics was acquired by WuXi AppTec and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of its WuXi ATU business unit, which aims to provide end-to-end support for cell and gene therapies. This acquisition marked a significant milestone, providing a substantial return to early investors like Mercia Asset Management.

Keywords: cell and gene therapy, synthetic biology, contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), genetic engineering, viral vectors, DNA design, protein expression, cell line development, AAV manufacturing, lentiviral manufacturing, biomanufacturing, drug discovery, antibody development, CRISPR, gene editing, SnapFast technology, TESSA technology, XLenti solutions, biotechnology services, pharmaceutical services