Aldevron to produce DNA products for cancer treatment research

By Lisa Gibson

FARGO — A new collaboration involving Fargo-based biologicalmaterial manufacturer Aldevron will seek to develop a cure for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Aldevron will produce minicricle DNA products for treatment research supported by the Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative to treat hematological malignancies such as multiple Myeloma.

Specifically, the research will develop Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells through reprogramming of existing T-Cells, which are white blood cells in the immune system, says James Brown, Aldevron’s vice president of corporate development. “The research extracts T-cells from the patient, reprograms them with minicircle DNA to attack tumors, and then infuses them back into the patient,” he says.

Myeloma Crowd is a nonprofit dedicated to patient advocacy and research funding of multiple myeloma. “One of our values is to help

James Brown Michael Chambers

make lives better, so when the Myeloma Crowd approached us about supporting their researchers with minicircle DNA, it was a natural fit for us,” Brown says, adding the goal is to increase life expectancy for multiple myeloma patients.

“We are privileged to be part of the ground-breaking cell therapy work supported by MCRI,” Aldevron CEO Michael Chambers says in a statement. “Combining the minicircle DNA technology with Aldevron’s manufacturing experience and expertise will enable the progression of these novel technologies from the bench to the bedside.”

The Aldevron-licensed technology was developed by Mark Kay, Dennis Farrey Family Professor in Pediatrics and Professor of Genetics at Stanford University. PB