ChromaGenix, a gene-therapy manufacturing spinout from North Carolina State University, commercialized peptide ligands intended to simplify affinity purification of viral vectors. The company said its approach uses synthetic peptide ligands as an alternative to traditional protein ligands in affinity chromatography. Management argued the peptide ligands are cheaper, more stable under harsh processing conditions, and have lower risk of releasing immunogenic fragments than protein ligands. The company also cited potentially longer reuse lifetimes and easier clearance during final filtration. ChromaGenix said it has already sold to multiple companies and is working toward expanding beyond gene therapy into purification of therapeutic cells, starting with CAR T manufacturing. The development fits the broader manufacturing challenge across gene and cell therapies, where downstream purification can drive cost, batch consistency, and scalability. New affinity chemistries that reduce cost and immunogenicity risk could become a differentiator for platform providers and their partners.