eXmoor Pharma and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust have announced a strategic collaboration to create a seamless pathway for cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing in the UK.
The partnership, unveiled on 26 November in Bristol and London, links the Royal Free’s Cell and Vector Innovation Centre (CVIC) with eXmoor’s later-phase clinical manufacturing expertise and its plans for a commercial manufacturing licence.
The collaboration is designed to reduce complexity, accelerate timelines and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced therapeutics. By aligning technical transfer processes, quality systems and regulatory expertise, the organisations aim to provide smoother transitions between early and later stages of manufacturing.
This will support academic, clinical and commercial innovators from proof of concept through to first-in-human trials and eventual commercial launch.
Joint priorities include harmonised technology transfer protocols, shared expertise in Qualified Person responsibilities, regulatory strategy and quality management, as well as collaborative process development and staff training programmes.
The partnership intends to establish a trusted model for academic-industry collaboration, offering early-stage innovators greater clarity on long-term commercial feasibility while demonstrating robust UK-based manufacturing routes to international stakeholders.
Angela Osborne, Founder & Executive Chair of eXmoor Pharma, said: “This collaboration is a powerful example of how the UK’s strength in early research can be matched with long-term manufacturing foresight. CVIC is doing vital work in early-phase GMP, and by connecting that with eXmoor’s development and commercialisation expertise, we can create a clearer, more supportive route to bring promising therapies to patients. It’s about strengthening the UK ecosystem so that innovation stays here and thrives here.”
Owen Bain, Director of CVIC, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, explained: “For the UK’s cell and gene therapy sector to truly thrive, key learnings must flow freely across institutional and commercial boundaries. This collaboration is designed to do exactly that – connecting NHS early-phase experience with eXmoor’s development and commercial manufacturing expertise.”
He added: “By sharing practical know-how, aligning standards, and building mutual understanding, we can catalyse the manufacturing pathway for the next wave of innovators and create a stronger, more resilient UK ecosystem for advanced therapies.”
