Join experts from Ascend Advanced Therapies to learn how they have implemented Oxford Nanopore sequencing to advance the characterisation of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. Their approach enables high-resolution analysis of biological products, compared with legacy methods, including identity, truncation hotspots, product-related DNA impurities, and encapsidated host-cell DNA, providing actionable insights without extending turnaround times or increasing sample requirements.

Attendees will also learn how peer-reviewed benchmarking has demonstrated that Oxford Nanopore sequencing achieves parity with other analytical methods, including alternative long-read sequencing platforms, while providing additional advantages in speed, lower sample input, and workflow flexibility. Together, these advances show how contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) are adopting modern sequencing tools to generate information-rich data and accelerate progress from development towards clinical evaluation.

Learning objectives:

• How CDMOs, such as Ascend Advanced Therapies, are modernising analytical approaches for advanced therapies using Oxford Nanopore sequencing to improve product quality, reduce sample input, and accelerate development timelines.
• Key quality attributes that can be characterised in detail, including vector genome identity, truncation hotspots, product-related DNA impurities, and encapsidated host-cell DNA — analysed within a single sequencing assay.
• Real-world insights from Ascend Advanced Therapies on implementing Oxford Nanopore sequencing workflows, analytical methods and alternative long-read sequencing technologies.