New Biologix

Positioned at the intersection of biotechnology and advanced therapy, NewBiologix SA provides critical technologies for the gene and cell therapy sectors. The company, founded in 2022 by seasoned entrepreneurs Igor Fisch and Nicolas Mermod, is headquartered in Epalinges, Switzerland. This venture represents a continuation of the founders' success in the field, as they previously co-founded Selexis in 2001, a cell line development leader they sold in 2017. Fisch, who serves as CEO, brings over two decades of experience in biotech and cell line development to the firm.

NewBiologix is focused on solving significant manufacturing bottlenecks in the production of viral vectors, which are essential delivery vehicles for gene therapies. The firm's core offering is a proprietary DNA integration platform for the advanced engineering of human (specifically HEK-293) and mammalian (CHO) cell lines. This platform is designed to improve the stability, quality, and reproducibility of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector production, which is a preferred vehicle for gene therapies. Benefits for clients include higher predictable expression levels, a reduction in empty viral capsids, and better batch-to-batch consistency, ultimately aiming to lower the cost of goods and make these advanced therapies more viable for a broader range of diseases beyond rare conditions.

The company's business model revolves around licensing its advanced cell lines and providing platform-based services to biopharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs). In October 2024, NewBiologix launched its Xcell™ Portfolio, which includes the Xcell™ Eng-HEK293 cell line for transient rAAV production, a production and testing platform, and a genomic analytical platform. This suite of technologies leverages next-generation sequencing (NGS) and optical mapping to offer comprehensive genomic analysis services, providing clients with deep insights into their products and supporting regulatory submissions. A key milestone was a February 2024 licensing agreement with Florabio AS, allowing NewBiologix to genetically engineer Florabio's HEK293 cell line to develop stable production lines, moving away from transient transfection methods.

NewBiologix emerged from stealth in May 2023 with a significant $50 million (CHF 45 million) Series A financing round. The round was led by Recipharm, a major global CDMO, with additional participation from the founders themselves. This capital is being used to advance the development of its platform, with plans to have begun beta testing with collaborators in 2024 and to make viral production cell lines commercially available by 2026. To support its growing customer base in the world's largest biotech market, the company launched a U.S. subsidiary in December 2024.

Keywords: gene therapy, cell line engineering, viral vector manufacturing, AAV production, DNA integration platform, HEK293 cell lines, CHO cell lines, biopharmaceutical services, advanced therapy medicinal products, ATMP, next-generation sequencing, genomic analysis, Recipharm, Igor Fisch, Nicolas Mermod, Selexis, biomanufacturing, CDMO partner, drug discovery, cell line development, recombinant adeno-associated virus, rAAV, Xcell Portfolio