New mid-scale microbial facility to support Servier with active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapies
| Quote from Jean-Christoph Hyvert, Chief Commercial Officer, Lonza: “By building on our current microbial capabilities, we will be able to continue our long-standing support for Servier as they look to expand access for patients. We see a clear role for microbial technology as new medicines evolve and we are investing in key enablers including expression technology and manufacturing assets.” Quote from Pierre Venesque, Executive Vice President Industry, Servier: “We are extremely pleased to already have been collaborating with Lonza for the production of L-asparaginase, the active pharmaceutical ingredient for our ALL therapeutic regimens, allowing us to quickly provide for patients we serve. Lonza’s drug manufacturing experience, infrastructure is important to this partnership and ensures the timely supply of these therapeutics.” Basel, Switzerland, 4 August 2020 – Lonza announced an expansion to the company’s microbial manufacturing facility in Visp, Switzerland. The new facility will provide mid-scale commercial manufacturing to multiple customers and in particular, serve the growing needs of Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical company and long-term Lonza partner. Servier and Lonza have recently signed a long-term extension to the manufacturing agreement for L-asparaginase, produced at Lonza since 2009. The extension and expansion of the collaboration will provide Servier with the additional capacity required to provide treatment to many more patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells. Servier intends to expand access to asparaginase-based multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimens, as ALL continues to be the most common type of cancer (~75%) among children diagnosed with leukemia.1 The new facility will be the sixth to be housed in Lonza’s new biopark in Visp, Switzerland, currently under construction. Lonza launched Ibex™ Solutions in 2018 to offer custom-tailored manufacturing solutions across a broad range of technologies while minimizing time to market with pre-built shells and infrastructure. The new mid-scale (3,000L) microbial facility will tap into existing central utilities and labs and will complement the existing small-scale (1,000L) and large-scale (15,000L) assets in Visp. The facility is expected to be operational in the second half of 2022 and Lonza expects to add 100 new staff to the existing, highly-experienced microbial team. Traditionally used for producing hormones, enzymes and some vaccines, microbial fermentation is becoming increasingly attractive for new molecular formats that do not need human glycosylation given the higher yields and shorter production timelines. For example, many antibody fragments, as well as plasmid DNA, can be produced in microbial systems. Lonza is constantly developing the technology required including XS Technologies®, an extensive microbial expression toolbox with more than 3,000 individual microbial strains expressed, together with a range of manufacturing assets designed to support customers from clinical supply to commercial production. 1American Cancer Society. About Childhood Leukemia. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/ | ||||||
| About Lonza At Lonza, we combine technological innovation with world class manufacturing and process excellence. Together, these enable our customers to deliver their discoveries in the healthcare, preservation and protection sectors. We are a preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets. We work to prevent illness and promote a healthier world by enabling our customers to deliver innovative medicines that help treat or even cure a wide range of diseases. We also offer a broad range of microbial control solutions, which help to create and maintain a healthy environment. Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today operates in 120 sites and offices in more than 35 countries. With approximately 15,500 full-time employees, we are built from high-performing teams and of individual employees who make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 5.9 billion in 2019 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.6 billion. Find out more at www.lonza.com and follow us on Twitter @LonzaGroup or Facebook @LonzaGroupAG. Lonza Contact Details
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. | ||||||
