As clinical use of Lentiviral vectors (LVVs) expands there is a need to continually improve vector production, quality, safety, capacity and potency. Here, we describe new technologies that improve these properties and underpin a new class of TetraVecta™ LVV genomes.

Our TetraVecta™ LVVs come in two core designs: [1] Rev-dependent ‘2KO-LVVs’ and [2] Rev-independent ‘MaxPax’ LVVs. Both platforms harbour a modification that inactivates the major splice donor (MSD) site within the packaging sequence. This modification eliminates aberrant splicing therefore simplifies full length vRNA production.  

Since MSD-inactivation alone leads to a reduction in LVV out-put titres, we have engineered different solutions to reverse this effect. 2KO-LVVs titres are maximised by the in-production co-expression of a modified U1 snRNA targeted to the LV packaging region. For MaxPax-LVVs, the attenuating effects of the MSD-inactivation are abrogated using a programmed splice event that stabilises the vRNA without contributing to overall vRNA length. Removal of RRE and most of the gag sequences allow MaxPax-LVVs to package ~1kb of extra transgene sequence.

Our TetraVecta™ LVVs also employ a ‘sequence-upgraded polyA’ or supA LTRs, providing improved transcriptional insulation for the integrated LVV in patient cells over current vectors. SupA-LTRs reduce transcriptional read-in to the cassette from adjacent chromatin by up to 50-fold whilst increasing transgene expression.

Finally, these features synergise with the ‘Transgene Repression In vector Production’ system (TRiP system™), which improves LV production and safety by reducing transgene expression during vector production as well as incorporation of the transgene protein into particles.