Univercells

Univercells is a Belgian biotechnology company founded in 2013 with the mission of making biologics accessible to all. The company specializes in developing innovative biomanufacturing technologies for cell and gene therapy research, development, and commercial production. Univercells' key product offerings include the scale-X single-use structured fixed-bed bioreactor for intensified production of viruses used in cell and gene therapies, viral vaccines, and other therapeutics. Additionally, the company offers the automated NevoLine Upstream platform, which incorporates industry-standard filtration to provide integrated up- and mid-stream processing capabilities.

Univercells' technology portfolio is designed to achieve cost-effective viral production from R&D to commercial scales. The scale-X bioreactor portfolio provides enhanced upstream processing of viral products with a structured and intensified fixed-bed design that offers linear scalability from bench to plant. The NevoLine Upstream platform delivers cost-effective viral production for vaccines, gene therapies, and oncolytic viruses within a 3m² footprint. In 2021, Univercells expanded into RNA manufacturing, developing a game-changing platform for RNA production at scale.

In June 2023, Univercells Technologies was acquired by Donaldson Company, Inc. for EUR 136 million. The acquisition was part of Donaldson's strategy to expand its life sciences portfolio and provide customers with comprehensive, differentiated offerings. As of 2022, Univercells Technologies generated approximately EUR 10 million in revenue and had over 100 employees globally.

Key customers and partnerships

Univercells has formed strategic partnerships with several organizations to advance its mission. In 2015, the company received a EUR 3 million equity investment from Takeda Ventures to develop cost-efficient bioprocess solutions for vaccine production. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has also been a key partner, supporting the development of Univercells' first integrated vaccine manufacturing platform for polio.

In July 2024, Univercells Technologies expanded its relationship with the Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania (GTP) to evaluate the scalability of GTP's gene therapy product manufacturing using Univercells Technologies' bioreactors. This collaboration aims to increase production per batch and potentially reduce the cost of goods sold for gene therapies.

Univercells has also been working to establish a presence in frontier markets, particularly in Africa and Latin America. The company aims to support the development of local biotech industries and improve access to affordable healthcare solutions in these regions. In 2021, Univercells announced collaborations in Senegal to support vaccine manufacturing autonomy, aligning with initiatives like Team Europe's efforts to enhance manufacturing and access to vaccines in Africa.