Minaris Evolves Business Model with Addition of Dedicated Viral Vectors Business Unit

Addition of Viral Vectors business unit creates three specialized areas of focus:
Cell Therapies, Viral Vectors, and Advanced Testing

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Minaris, a global cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO and multimodal contract testing organization, today announced the addition of a dedicated Viral Vectors business unit, evolving its business model around three specialized areas: Cell Therapies, Viral Vectors, and Advanced Testing. The model is designed to align Minaris more closely with evolving customer needs, deepen specialized expertise, and support the company's long-term strategy.

With the addition of Viral Vectors, Minaris will operate through three focused business units:

• Minaris Cell Therapies, led by Dr. Luciana Mansolelli
• Minaris Viral Vectors, led by Dr. Eytan Abraham
• Minaris Advanced Testing, led by Dr. Ilya Koltover

Together, the three business units bring specialized cell therapy, viral vector, and testing capabilities under one Minaris organization, giving customers access to deep expertise while maintaining a coordinated experience across development, manufacturing, quality, and testing.

"Minaris is entering its next phase with a business model that reflects both the evolving needs of our customers and the direction of the markets we serve," said Orla Cloak, Chief Executive Officer at Minaris. "The addition of a dedicated Viral Vectors business unit allows us to bring greater focus to an area that is increasingly important to cell and gene therapy developers, while continuing to build on our established strengths in cell therapies and advanced testing. Across all three businesses, our goal is to provide the deep technical expertise and integrated capabilities customers need as they move complex therapies from development through commercialization."

An evolving business model aligned with customer needs

The addition of Viral Vectors as a dedicated business unit gives Minaris greater focus across three complementary areas of expertise while preserving the benefits of working with one Minaris. Customers may engage with one business unit or across multiple business units depending on their program needs.

Minaris Cell Therapies brings 25+ years of cell therapy development and manufacturing, including autologous and allogeneic programs. The team supports customers from early development through clinical and commercial manufacturing with expertise in process development, technology transfer, current good manufacturing practice (GMP) manufacturing, quality systems, and scale-up or scale-out strategies. Minaris Cell Therapy CDMO services are supported by a global footprint across the US, Europe and Asia.

Minaris Viral Vectors supports viral vector technologies, development, and manufacturing for gene therapy and genetically modified cell therapy programs, including in vivo lentiviral programs. The business combines 10+ years of experience in viral vector process and analytical development, technology transfer, GMP manufacturing, and scalable production strategies leveraging a technology portfolio of plasmids and cell lines developed through OXGENE. Minaris' Viral Vector CDMO services are centralized at its Philadelphia site, with OXGENE based in the UK.

Minaris Advanced Testing provides GMP biosafety, viral clearance, potency, and analytical testing services for biologics, vaccines, advanced therapies, and related development programs. The team brings 40 years of experience in supporting customers with testing expertise designed to provide confidence, clarity, and regulatory readiness throughout development and commercialization.

The evolution of Minaris' business model creates dedicated focus across three complementary areas of expertise. It is designed to strengthen customer engagement, accelerate decision making, and support more efficient execution across the company's global network.

This focus is especially important as the industry expands toward in vivo gene therapies, which require robust viral vector development, scalable manufacturing strategies, high-quality analytical and biosafety testing, and a strong quality and regulatory mindset. Minaris' combined CDMO and testing expertise allows the company to support customers across critical parts of the development pathway, while the addition of a dedicated Viral Vectors business unit brings greater focus to an area that is increasingly important as in vivo gene therapy programs advance.

Minaris was formed through the 2025 acquisitions of Minaris Regenerative Medicine and WuXi Advanced Therapies (formerly the WuXi AppTec Philadelphia site) by U.S. private equity firm Altaris, bringing together deep roots in cell and gene therapy manufacturing and biosafety testing. "This evolution allows us to build on that foundation while positioning the company for where the industry is heading," said Orla Cloak. Across all three business units, customers will continue to benefit from the same commitment to quality, collaboration, and scientific rigor."

The new business unit model is effective October 1, 2026.

About Minaris

Minaris is a global cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO and multimodal contract testing organization. The company operates through three focused business units: Minaris Cell Therapies, Minaris Viral Vectors, and Minaris Advanced Testing.

With more than 25 years of cell therapies and viral vectors development and manufacturing experience and more than 40 years in biosafety testing, Minaris brings together deep scientific knowledge, GMP manufacturing capabilities, analytical and biosafety testing expertise, and a collaborative operating model to help innovators advance complex therapies from development through commercialization.

Across its global network, Minaris is committed to helping partners bring more therapies to more patients worldwide.

For more information, visit minaris.com or follow Minaris on LinkedIn.

Minaris Media Contact

Kristen White, Co-Founder & Partner
Oak Street Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Minaris Advanced Therapies, LLC