San Antonio, TX., September 24, 2025 – – Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the world’s foremost independent biomedical research institutions dedicated to eradicating infection and advancing health, has entered into a multi-year partnership with biotechnology company, Advanced Virology.
The agreement will see Advanced Virology commercializing an innovative reverse genetics technology developed in the laboratory of Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D., Professor at Texas Biomed. Plasmids – small pieces of DNA – are a core component of this platform. They are used as tools to study viral functions, disease mechanisms and in developing new vaccines and antivirals. A standard research tool that’s been used safely for years, reverse genetics allows researchers to systemically study viruses and/or design weakened versions of them for use in vaccines or reference strains.
“We are excited to begin working with Advanced Virology,” Martinez-Sobrido said. “As part of our agreement, we will be sharing plasmid-based reverse genetics to generate safe biosafety level 2 research versions of influenza, Zika and SARS-CoV-2 to be used in creating new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines.”
Dr. Martinez-Sobrido’s laboratory is widely recognized for its expertise in generating recombinant viruses, including influenza, paramyxovirus, arenaviruses, coronavirus, Zika virus, filovirus, bunyavirus and most recently, H5N1 (avian) influenza, using plasmid-based reverse genetic approaches.
“In the last five years, Texas Biomed has established a rapid innovation pipeline that accelerates moving laboratory inventions into the hands of partner companies faster than universities,” said Cory Hallam, Ph.D., Executive Vice President for Applied Science and Innovation at Texas Biomed. “This speed benefits partners in launching new products and services and ultimately moves the needle on improving human health in America.”
“Texas Biomed’s unmatched expertise in plasmid development and reputation for scientific excellence makes them an ideal partner for Advanced Virology. We look forward to offering this technology to our customers as they advance innovations in virology research and manufacturing,” said Advanced Virology Co-Founder Doug Butdorf.
Since its development in 2020 by Chengjin Ye, Ph.D., in Dr. Martinez-Sobrido’s laboratory, Texas Biomed’s SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system has enabled scientific progress in more than 200 vetted labs across the globe and received recognition in top scientific publications.
For more information about Texas Biomed’s reverse genetics plasmids, please visit https://www.txbiomed.org/applied-science-and-innovation/reverse-genetics-plasmids/
About Advanced Virology
Advanced Virology Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in the manufacture and supply of very high fidelity virus stocks and derivative products such as wildtype, chimeric, reporter tagged, purified, inactivated viruses. Leveraging state-of-the-art laboratory technologies and a multidisciplinary team of virologists and molecular biologists, the company partners with academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms and research organizations to advance their virology research, vaccine development, and other therapeutic applications. With a strong commitment to innovation, safety, and global health impact, Advanced Virology aims to stay at the forefront of virological science in an increasingly interconnected and vulnerable world. For more information, visit: https://advancedvirology.com/
About Texas Biomed
Texas Biomed is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to protecting the global community from infectious diseases. Through basic research, preclinical testing and innovative partnerships, we accelerate diagnostics, therapies and vaccines for the world’s deadliest pathogens. Our San Antonio campus hosts high containment laboratories and the Southwest National Primate Research Center. Our scientists collaborate with industry and researchers globally and have helped deliver the first COVID-19 vaccine, the first Ebola treatment and first Hepatitis C therapy. For more information, please visit https://txbiomed.org.