VVMF and OXB Announce Licensing Deal
Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility Pty Ltd (VVMF), Australia’s only viral vector Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), entered into a licensing and option agreement with OXB (LSE: OXB) on March 18, 2026, granting VVMF a worldwide, non-exclusive license to OXB’s inAAVate™ platform know-how and intellectual property, according to GlobeNewswire PE. The agreement also includes an option for VVMF to extend the license to cover OXB’s LentiVector™ platform, with OXB receiving a license fee and eligibility for future payments related to platform use.
Details of the Agreement
The five-year license supports a strategic collaboration between OXB and VVMF, enabling VVMF to accelerate its operational and commercial readiness for providing advanced viral vector technologies. As part of this deal, VVMF aims to capture global demand for viral vectors, with a focus on the fast-growing Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and position Australia as a regional hub for high-quality Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) manufacturing. VVMF, as Australia’s only viral vector CDMO, offers emerging CGT biopharma companies benefits such as geopolitical stability, access to R&D tax incentives up to 43%, a globally recognised regulatory framework, and strong IP and data protections.
Strategic Collaboration Benefits
This agreement allows VVMF to leverage OXB’s expertise and global brand recognition to build its capabilities, according to GlobeNewswire PE. It follows a non-binding terms sheet signed in October 2025 and helps VVMF provide a competitive pathway for viral vector development and GMP manufacturing, reducing development risk and improving capital efficiency for companies advancing to clinical stages. Widely known in the biotech sector, such licensing deals often facilitate technology transfer and market expansion, as seen in similar partnerships that enhance manufacturing scalability.
Executive Perspectives
Stephen Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of VVMF, stated that access to the OXB platforms provides a strong foundation for building capabilities and leveraging OXB’s expertise to establish leadership in the APAC region. Dr Sébastien Ribault, Chief Business Officer of OXB, described the agreement as an endorsement of OXB’s position as a world-leading viral vector CDMO, demonstrating the robustness of its platforms and enabling strategic expansion into Australia and the broader APAC region.
