A cell engineering company

Higher viral vector yield,
engineered into the cell.

ExtraCell Biotechnologies re-programs the gene expression of mammalian producer cells to dramatically increase viral titer, helping gene- and cell-therapy developers make more vector per batch and cut the cost per dose.

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A GIGA / University of Liège spin-off · Liège, Belgium

Extra-HEK293®Our flagship engineered line
AAV · LVVector platforms supported
~½ costLower cost per patient
GIGAUniversity of Liège spin-off

The technology

We tune the cell, not just the process

Producer cells spend resources on the wrong genes. By down-regulating specific genes inside the cell (the basis of our patent WO2021165484), ExtraCell redirects that capacity toward making virus, lifting titer without changing your upstream process.

01

Identify

Drawing on knowledge of the secretory cell machinery, we pinpoint the gene-regulation bottlenecks limiting viral production.

02

Engineer

Targeted, calibrated genetic modification re-balances the cell toward high-yield vector output: it's about the right level of regulation, not just the right gene.

03

Produce

Your team runs the same transfection and process, and harvests significantly more functional vector per batch.

Plasmids and a transfection agent form a complex that enters producer cells. Standard HEK293 cells release few viral vectors, while Extra-HEK293 cells release many more viral vectors.
Same plasmids, same transfection: Extra-HEK293® cells release substantially more viral vectors than the parental HEK293 line.
Explore the science in depth

Validated experimental data

More AAV from the same bioreactor

In triple-plasmid AAV2 production, our engineered HEK293 cells out-produce the parental line head-to-head. Higher titer means fewer batches and a lower cost per dose. In gene therapy, where COGS can run into the millions per patient, that can roughly halve the manufacturing cost per patient.

  • Significant increase in AAV titer vs. the parental line
  • No change required to your existing upstream process
  • Patent-protected, validated approach (WO2021165484)
Ask for the full data package

Ways to work with us

Two routes to higher yield

Bring your cells, or start from ours. Either way, your process stays in your hands.

Engineer your cell line

We apply our genetic-modification toolkit to your proprietary producer cells and hand back a higher-yielding version, with no platform switch and no IP headache.

Discuss a project
Fastest start

License Extra-HEK293®

Access our ready-engineered, super-productive HEK293 line and start making more AAV or lentivirus from day one, with technical support through tech-transfer.

Request access

On the roadmap: Extra-CHO, Extra-MDCK, Extra-Vero and Extra-iPSC lines, extending the platform across antibodies, vaccines and cell therapy.

About us

Born in the lab, built for the bioreactor

ExtraCell Biotechnologies is a spin-off from GIGA, the biomedical research institute of the University of Liège. Our mission is to improve the yield and quality of complex biomolecules through smart genetic modification of mammalian expression systems, making advanced therapies more affordable and more available.

Prof. Jean-Claude Twizere

Chief Scientific Officer

Maximilien Lopes, PhD

Scientist

Clément Nshimiyimana

Chief Executive Officer

Get in touch

Let's increase your yield.

Whether you want to apply our technology to your cells, license Extra-HEK293®, or just see the data, tell us what you're producing and we'll respond within two business days.

We'll only use your details to reply. No spam, ever.