Innovate UK Awards Icosphere Biomedical Catalyst Grant

Icosphere Biosciences Awarded Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Grant to Develop Breakthrough Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing Technology

Oxford, UK – 20 August 2025 — Icosphere Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on next-generation gene therapy vector production, has been awarded a prestigious Biomedical Catalyst grant from Innovate UK to support the development of its proprietary platform for high-purity, high-yield manufacturing of High Capacity Adenoviral Vectors (HcAdV).

The project, funded through the competitive Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst programme, aims to solve one of the most significant technical challenges facing gene therapy: how to deliver large or multiple genes efficiently and safely. Current systems, such as lentiviral vectors and adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, are limited in their DNA carrying capacity—restricting their use in treating conditions like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) or in enabling gene editing techniques that require delivery of multiple components.

Icosphere’s novel manufacturing approach, IcoGenesis, allows for the production of HcAdV—capable of carrying up to 35kb of genetic material—without the contamination issues that have historically hampered their clinical use.

“We are proud to receive this support from Innovate UK,” said Dr. Ryan Cawood, CEO of Icosphere Biosciences. “Our platform aims to overcome a critical bottleneck in gene therapy manufacturing by enabling scalable, clean production of high-capacity adenoviral vectors. This unlocks the potential for treating diseases that were previously out of reach.”

HcAdVs are uniquely suited for delivering full-length human genes and the multi-gene payloads required for gene editing. However, current methods rely on helper viruses for production—these not only limit yield but also contaminate the final product, requiring complex and costly purification steps. Icosphere’s innovation resolves this issue, significantly improving both yield and purity.

The Innovate UK-funded project will provide proof of principle for this new manufacturing method and demonstrate successful delivery of the full-length gene for a number of genetic diseases, such as Stargardt's Disease - a feat not achievable with current vector technologies. This could represent a major step forward in the development of treatments for such genetic diseases.

“With this technology, we aim to set a new standard for vector production, enabling gene therapy companies to reach more patients with safer and more effective treatments,” added Dr. Cawood.

The successful outcome of the project is expected to pave the way for commercial licensing agreements and strategic collaborations with gene therapy and gene editing companies globally.

About Icosphere Biosciences
Icosphere Biosciences is a UK-based biotech company developing advanced gene therapy vector manufacturing platforms. Its core technology, IcoGenesis, enables scalable, high-yield, contamination-free production of High Capacity Adenoviral Vectors (HcAdV), unlocking new possibilities in the treatment of complex genetic diseases.

About Innovate UK and the Biomedical Catalyst
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. The Biomedical Catalyst provides funding to innovative businesses developing solutions to healthcare challenges with significant commercial potential.