ST. LOUIS, Missouri, October 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group , has announced the new entity ‘SAFC Biosciences’ to embrace its biopharmaceutical development and cell culture-related manufacturing services. As of 1 September, the former JRH Biosciences business transferred into the SAFC Biosciences brand, which becomes a legal entity on 1 January 2006.
Already the clear market leader in cell culture reagents and services for therapeutic proteins, SAFC Biosciences recorded 2004 sales in excess of US$150m and 2005’s financials to-date are ahead of expectations. The business supports 63% of approved cell culture based drugs and is the primary vendor to more than 50% of approved drugs.
Biosciences becomes the fourth discrete segment of SAFC, which is now a top 10 fine chemical company with annual sales of US$425m. It joins SAFC Pharma - which includes the former Ultrafine and Tetrionics businesses - SAFC Specialties and SAFC Hi-tech.
“SAFC Biosciences is a strong platform for us to capture high growth in a sector where technology, regulatory compliance, manufacturing scale and speed-of-response are key to adding value in customer partnerships”, commented SAFC President Frank Wicks.
Development strategy
The creation of SAFC Biosciences is the final current-phase outcome from a Sigma-Aldrich development strategy launched in 2000. This called for creation of a series of high performance custom chemical businesses, and the subsequent goal of SAFC becoming a top 10 fine chemical company.
“Growth and delivery to that strategy have been pretty much on or better than expectation”, notes Wicks. “From a recent review, we’re now looking to see SAFC generate annual growth of 10% or more - and strengthen our position as the Number One service provider in pharma. SAFC Biosciences is key to our determination to increase our market lead in biopharm cell culture”.
Drivers for continued growth include focus on production; supply chain; systems and customer interaction - together with further product and service offers, notably in specialties. Add-ons to the current technologies portfolio and SAFC’s cGMP capacity are also on the current strategic agenda.
Profile: SAFC Biosciences
SAFC Biosciences provides an integrated services package in mammalian cell culture media development to support customer programs from pre-clinical and clinical development through to commercialization. Analytical and regulatory support is also part of the package to directly benefit speed-to-market times.
Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, SAFC Biosciences has five production facilities in the US, Europe and Australia and employs 650 people. Main product lines are Ex-CELL(TM) serum-free media; serum-based products; LONG(TM) growth factors and BIOEAZE(TM) disposable bioprocessing systems.
As the basis for its biopharmaceutical expansion program, Sigma-Aldrich acquired JRH Biosciences from Australia’s CSL Limited in February 2005 for a consideration of US$370m.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has over 6,800 employees providing excellent service worldwide. The Company is committed to Accelerating the success of our Customers through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit our award-winning web site at www.sigma-aldrich.com.
Cautionary Statement:
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding Sigma-Aldrich’s expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like regarding future sales, earnings and other matters. These statements involve assumptions regarding Company operations, investments and conditions in the markets the Company serves. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, certain economic, political and technological factors. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in this news release, due to, but not limited to, such factors as (1) changes in pricing and the competitive environment, (2) other changes in the business environment in which the Company operates, (3) uncertainties surrounding government healthcare reform, (4) government regulations applicable to the business, (5) the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, (6) the ability to retain customers, suppliers and employees (7) the success of research and development activities and (8) the impact of acquisitions and success in integrating and obtaining projected results from the acquisitions. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Sigma-Aldrich Group
CONTACT: CONTACT: Forward Enquiries to: Dr. Frank Wicks, President, SAFC,+1-314-286-8008. Press Enquiries: Richard Kerns, Northern Exposure PR, Tel:+44-161-728-5880 Fax: +44-161-728-5875 Email: richard@nepr.fsbusiness.co.uk
