Plasmids: Tackling Supply Chain and Manufacturing Challenges
Posted: 28 July 2025 | Drug Target Review | No comments yet
Gene therapy’s progress depends on reliable supply chains and efficient manufacturing. In this episode, we explore the challenges and strategies involved in plasmid production – an essential component in advancing life-changing therapies.
This episode, ‘Plasmids: Tackling Supply Chain and Manufacturing Challenges,’ explores the critical supply chain and manufacturing hurdles impacting the life science industry, especially in gene therapy. We’ll uncover effective strategies for securing plasmids of the necessary grades, vital for advancing life-changing treatments.
Join us as we speak with Dr Matthew Hewitt, Vice President and Technical Officer for CGT & Biologics at Charles River Laboratories, who shares expert insights into overcoming key hurdles in the life sciences industry.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Strategies for delivering plasmids across all required quality grades
- How process standardization simplifies complex supply chains
- The importance of maintaining larger material stocks to mitigate long-lead-time consumable issues
- How integrated approaches streamline operations and accelerate gene therapy development
- Dr Hewitt’s perspective on the future of gene therapy.
This podcast is brought to you in association with Molecular Devices. With its innovative life science technology, Molecular Devices makes scientific breakthroughs possible for academic, pharmaceutical, government and biotech customers. Head to moleculardevices.com to find out more.
About Dr Matthew Hewitt
Matthew Hewitt, B.A. Ph.D., currently serves as Vice President, CTO Manufacturing Business Division at Charles River Laboratories (CRL) playing a critical role in driving CGT strategic vision as well as leading multiple operational initiatives across CRL’s CGT CDMO, Biologics Testing, and Microbial Solutions global network.
Before joining CRL, he was Head of R&D and Clinical Development for Lonza’s Personalized Medicine Business Unit leading Cocoon platform development, a closed, automated, scalable cell therapy manufacturing solution. In addition, he executed numerous collaborations across academia and industry leveraging the Cocoon.
Prior to Lonza, Matt led the Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment program at Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, focusing on improving cell therapy efficacy in solid tumors. He also led the Immunology group at the University of Pennsylvania’s Gene Therapy Program, leading and contributing to numerous AAV gene therapy programs.
Matt received his B.A. in Molecular Biology at Goucher College while playing Men’s Lacrosse, PhD in Biophysics and Physiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University within the Asthma and Allergy Division.
Related topics
Analytical Techniques, Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Cell Therapy, DNA, Drug Development, Gene Therapy, Legal & Compliance, Research & Development
Related organisations
Charles River Laboratories, Molecular Devices
