Minaris, the cell and gene therapy CDMO headquartered at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, and Bionova Scientific LLC, an Asahi Kasei company with facilities in Fremont, California, and The Woodlands, Texas, announced on September 9, 2026 a strategic partnership to expand access to high-quality plasmid DNA (pDNA) for cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing.
Minaris Chief Technology and Commercial Officer Eytan Abraham said: “Cell and gene therapy developers need confidence that critical starting materials will be available when they need them and capable of scaling as programs advance. Through our partnership with Bionova Scientific, we will provide customers expanded access to best-in-class plasmids designed to enable higher yields and improve vector quality while helping simplify development and manufacturing.”
A Combined Platform From Raw Material to Commercial Scale
The partnership pairs Bionova’s Clean Genome® E. coli platform and pDNA manufacturing expertise with Minaris’ OXGENE® sequence optimization technology, and offers a portfolio of 13 production-ready plasmids built on SnapFast® technology, nine AAV plasmids spanning Rep/Cap serotypes 1 through 8 plus adenoviral helper functions, and four lentiviral vector (LVV) plasmids covering the gene-of-interest transfer backbone, packaging, Rev, and envelope components. Two of those plasmids are already supporting active customer programs, and the companies expect research-use materials to be available within four weeks.
Bionova Scientific General Manager and VP of pDNA Process Development Pratima Cherukuri said: “Bionova Scientific is committed to delivering premium-grade plasmid DNA through scientifically robust process development, scalable manufacturing, and operational excellence. Together with Minaris, we are providing developers with an integrated platform that reduces complexity, supports efficient technology transfer and process scale-up, and enables a seamless transition from research-use materials through clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing.”
Why Plasmid DNA Supply Is the Bottleneck
Plasmid DNA is the critical starting material for manufacturing the adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral vector (LVV) products that underpin most cell and gene therapies, making its supply chain a common chokepoint for developers moving from research into clinical and commercial manufacturing. Bionova Scientific Chairman and President Darren Head tied the partnership directly to that risk: “The promise of cell and gene therapies can only be realized when scientific innovation is supported by dependable manufacturing. This partnership brings together complementary expertise to simplify development, reduce supply chain risk, and provide customers with a seamless path from research through commercial manufacturing. Together, we’re helping innovators move promising therapies to patients faster.”
About Bionova Scientific
Bionova Scientific, an Asahi Kasei company, is a bespoke contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with deep expertise in complex biologics manufacturing and plasmid DNA production for cell and gene therapy applications. With facilities in Fremont, California, and The Woodlands, Texas, Bionova delivers scientifically rigorous, high-quality, and highly personalized solutions that support biotherapeutic innovators from early development through commercial readiness.
About Minaris
Minaris is a global cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO and multimodal biosafety testing organization. With more than 25 years of CGT development and manufacturing expertise and more than 40 years in biosafety testing, Minaris combines deep legacy experience with state-of-the-art GMP facilities as a fully U.S.-owned organization under new ownership and management. With five global sites across three continents, Minaris supports innovators from IND through commercial supply.
