The National Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility Inititive

Gene & Cell Therapies (GCT) represent an advanced frontier in modern medicine, revolutionizing the treatment of various diseases. Genetic and cellular therapies enable the introduction of specific genetic material into cells in the patient’s body. This technology facilitates the development of personalized treatments for cancer, genetic diseases, and more. Currently, over 4,000 clinical trials in this field are being conducted worldwide.

Viral vectors are a critical component in the process, used to deliver genetic material into cells. However, there is a severe global shortage in their production, with long delivery times (12-18 months) and very high costs ($300,000-1,000,000 per batch). Furthermore, product quality is often compromised due to the global shortage. This shortage and lack of access to advanced infrastructure cause significant problems, including: reduced survival prospects for small Israeli companies in the field, significant delays in developing treatments and bringing them to market, difficulty attracting international investments to Israel, and lost opportunities to build mature and productive GCT companies in Israel.

As a solution to these challenges, it has been proposed to establish a national facility focused on producing viral vectors that will provide: biological design and optimization services, customized vector development, production of viral vectors to international standards, rental of laboratories and clean rooms meeting GMP standards, and conducting training and workshops in the field. Israel is well-positioned to develop such a center thanks to its leading global status in biotechnology and life sciences, and a developed ecosystem of biotech companies, academic institutions, and hospitals. Moreover, it demonstrated its capability during the COVID-19 pandemic through collaboration between the proposed partners.

The facility will be established in partnership with Tel Aviv University, Ichilov Hospital, and Electra company. The facility will provide Israel with independence in 

developing advanced technologies, significantly shorten the timeframes for treatment development, reduce costs, and encourage investments in the local industry. Additionally, the facility will serve as a vital national infrastructure that can also be used for the rapid development and production of vaccines in the event of future pandemics. This is a strategic plan designed in graduated phases over a decade, with a gradual investment starting at 7 million NIS in the first two years and expected to achieve profitability within several years.

The establishment of the National Viral Vector Facility represents a crucial strategic step for advancing Israel’s position at the forefront of global medicine, strengthening the country’s technological independence, and significantly improving the ability to provide advanced and innovative treatments to the local healthcare system and the world at large. GYTAnalytics is honored to support and guide this partnership on their journey to making this project a reality.