Virus-based therapies and technologies

The focus of this innovation field with working groups in Stuttgart and Biberach is on concepts and solutions for the use of viruses and phages for the targeted medical (prevention, therapy, diagnostics) or biotechnological application and biointelligent use. The services offer a range from genome engineering to process development for the production of viral agents in lab-scale.

One focus is the development of viruses into therapeutic agents. Oncolytic viruses, for example, represent promising and innovative cancer therapies. In the innovation field, a viral platform based on Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) has already been developed. The ability of viruses/viral vectors to transport genetic information into cells and anchor it there can be used in diverse ways, e.g. for cell and gene therapy.

Bacteriophages are attractive alternatives for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and can be used in a variety of technological ways, for example for the production of antibodies, as biointelligent actuators and sensors in fermentation or for the degradation of biofilms.

In addition, within the innovation field we are developing virus-like particles as vaccines and for targeted drug delivery.

From virus engineering to analyzing the formulated virus: Fraunhofer IGB provides expertise along the entire drug development process

Our competencies established at both the Stuttgart and Biberach VBT branch span the entire pharmaceutical development process starting with molecular virus engineering to increase activity and efficiency and ranging to process developments to improve virus production and novel methods to analyze the formulated virus. Consequentially, we will contribute to establish oncolytic viruses and bacteriophages as accepted and broader-used therapeutic modalities.