io accompanied PROVIREX all the way from initial idea to successful implementation of state-of-the-art clean rooms for ATMP production
Heidelberg, January 14, 2026
PROVIREX has reached a milestone for cell and gene therapy in Germany with the completion of the new clean rooms for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) production. io was on board as a consulting and planning partner from the very outset – from concept development to planning and implementation, right through to qualification support.
Innovative project for pioneering therapies
PROVIREX Genome Editing Therapies GmbH is a highly innovative biotech company specializing in the development of novel gene therapies. The new clean rooms at TecHHub Hamburg meet the stringent safety level S3** requirements and are GMP-compliant. They will enable PROVIREX to use its proprietary Brec1 technology as a stem cell therapy in initial clinical trials. The Brec1 “gene scissors” are used to cut out the blueprint of the HIV AIDS pathogen from the genetic material of the infected cell and eliminate the virus. For the first time, it may be possible to actually remove the virus instead of just keeping it in check with antiretroviral therapy, as has been the case with previous forms of treatment.
PROVIREX’s new clean rooms in Germany will soon also enable significantly more cancer patients to benefit from CAR-T cancer therapy, including people living with HIV who have difficulty accessing such therapies due to the increased safety requirements for laboratories.
Comprehensive expertise for complex requirements
io supported the project throughout all phases as a manufacturer-independent consulting and planning company. The process started with feasibility analysis and concept development, through basic and detail design to implementation support and interface coordination in the TecHHub. Many services were provided, including:
- Planning and integration of the GMP clean room and laboratory areas, taking into account the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) requirements
- Project management and coordination of all trades (HVAC, electrical, I&C) as well as coordination with the client and the authorities
A powerful message for the future of gene therapy
“We are proud to have supported PROVIREX in this pioneering project. The new clean rooms are a crucial step in developing innovative therapies against HIV and cancer,” explains Dr. Thomas Centner, Principal Consultant at io. “Our interdisciplinary expertise in pharma/biotech, MEP and architectural planning has helped to implement an clean room project that meets the highest safety and quality standards and to create one of the finest clean rooms in Hamburg, where qualified employees enjoy an extremely pleasant working environment – something that is exceptional in Germany.
About PROVIREX
PROVIREX Genome Editing Therapies GmbH is a leading biotech company specializing in developing breakthrough genome editing therapies to cure HIV. The company’s core technology is based on highly specific designer recombinases such as Brec1, which remove integrated HIV DNA from infected cells with high precision. In contrast to conventional genome editing methods, this recombinase-based approach offers exceptional accuracy and safety, as viral genomes are directly removed without having to rely on cellular DNA repair mechanisms.
PROVIREX operates GMP-compliant safety level S3** clean rooms in accordance with GenTSV at its Hamburg site, which are specially designed for manufacturing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP). This state-of-the-art facility sets new standards for safety and quality and enables the clinical application of innovative, personalized HIV and CAR-T therapies. The PROVIREX team combines scientific excellence and innovation to transform the future of HIV therapy.
