Lonza’s New Pooled Donor Suspension Hepatocytes Enable the Next Level of Reliability, Robustness and Customizability

Walkersville, MD (USA) / Basel, Switzerland, 11 February 2019 – Lonza announces the launch of DonorPlex™ Hepatocytes, a new line of high-quality cryopreserved pooled donor suspension hepatocytes, which are the first of their kind to be produced using Lonza’s novel patented manufacturing process. Researchers within DMPK and ADME laboratories can now benefit from this reliable and robust product offering for studying the hepatic metabolism of drugs.

Understanding hepatic drug metabolism is necessary to meet the strict safety-testing requirements for market approval of new products. Researchers typically need to use primary cryopreserved hepatocytes from a large number of donors to obtain a statistically significant result. However, pooled donor hepatocytes currently available on the market commonly suffer from increased lot-to-lot variability, while not being able to meet more specialized application needs.

Lonza’s patented manufacturing process ensures that the DonorPlex™ Hepatocytes exhibit improved phenotype reproducibility. Furthermore, a proprietary algorithm that predicts yield, viability and functional phenotype prior to manufacture ensures individual customer specifications are met.

"Drug discovery scientists require access to high-quality hepatocytes that can deliver consistent and dependable results to expedite new product approval," said Dr. Maureen Bunger, Product Manager for ADME-Tox Solutions at Lonza. "Lonza’s DonorPlex™ Hepatocytes have been designed to do just that. Our patented pooling procedure, in combination with our predictive algorithm, means we can provide our customers with a variety of hepatocyte configurations and sizes that either represent the average population or meet specific metabolism testing and cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity needs." 

The DonorPlex™ Hepatocytes offer a large, comprehensive inventory of cryopreserved single donor suspension hepatocytes, which include a range of 10-, 20- and 50-donor gender-specific and mixed-gender lots.

Further information can be found in the DonorPlex™ Hepatocytes technical note or via the website lonza.com/pdh.

About Lonza 
Lonza is an integrated solutions provider that creates value along the Healthcare Continuum®. Through our Pharma & Biotech segment and our Specialty Ingredients segment businesses, we harness science and technology to serve markets along this continuum. We focus on creating a healthy environment, promoting a healthier lifestyle and preventing illness through consumers' preventive healthcare, as well as improving patient healthcare by supporting our customers to deliver innovative medicines that help treat or even cure severe diseases. 

Patients and consumers benefit from our ability to transfer our pharma know-how to the healthcare, hygiene and fast-moving consumer goods environment and to the preservation and protection of the world where we live. 

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today is a well-respected global company with more than 100 sites and offices and approximately 15,500 full-time employees worldwide. The company generated sales of CHF 5.5 billion in 2018 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.5 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.

Lonza Contact Information
Petra Haberkamm

Manager Marketing Communications
Lonza Cologne GmbH
Tel +49 221 991990
petra.haberkamm@lonza.com

Constance Ward 
Head External Communications
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 8840
constance.ward@lonza.com

Additional Information and Disclaimer
Lonza Group Ltd has its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It has a secondary listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"). Lonza Group Ltd is not subject to the SGX-ST’s continuing listing requirements but remains subject to Rules 217 and 751 of the SGX-ST Listing Manual.

Certain matters discussed in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and estimates of Lonza Group Ltd, although Lonza Group Ltd can give no assurance that these expectations and estimates will be achieved. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty and are qualified in their entirety. The actual results may differ materially in the future from the forward-looking statements included in this news release due to various factors. Furthermore, except as otherwise required by law, Lonza Group Ltd disclaims any intention or obligation to update the statements contained in this news release.
 

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