VVMF and OXB Announce Licensing Agreement
Australia’s only viral vector Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility Pty Ltd (VVMF), 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, with an option to extend to the LentiVector™ platform, according to GlobeNewswire PE.
Details of the Agreement
The agreement, following a non-binding terms sheet signed in October 2025, includes a five-year license that allows VVMF to access OXB’s proprietary platforms, while OXB receives a license fee and is eligible for future payments related to the use of its platforms. This deal enables VVMF, as Australia’s first commercial viral vector CDMO, to accelerate its operational and commercial readiness for providing advanced viral vector technologies. VVMF offers emerging 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, which help companies progress to clinic faster with reduced development risk and greater capital efficiency.
Strategic Collaboration and Regional Focus
The licensing agreement underpins a strategic collaboration between OXB and VVMF, aimed at capturing global demand for viral vector technologies with a particular emphasis on the fast-growing APAC region and positioning Australia as a regional hub for high-quality Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) manufacturing. As part of this, VVMF will leverage OXB’s expertise and global brand recognition to build its capabilities and establish a leadership position in the APAC region, according to GlobeNewswire PE. This partnership allows VVMF to ensure its processes align with recognised industry standards and to develop reliable and scalable manufacturing capabilities for CGT.
Executive Perspectives
Stephen Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of VVMF, stated: ‘Access to the OXB platforms gives us a strong foundation as we continue to build our capabilities, leveraging OXB’s expertise and global brand recognition to establish a leadership position in the APAC region.’ Dr Sébastien Ribault, Chief Business Officer of OXB, said: ‘This agreement is a strong endorsement of OXB’s position as a world-leading viral vector CDMO and demonstrates the robustness of our platforms.’ This collaboration provides OXB with a strategic foothold in Australia and a launchpad to serve clients across the APAC region, further strengthening global foundations for reliable AAV and lentiviral vector manufacturing.
