Lonza, Forbion, and BioGeneration Ventures Extend Collaboration to Add Development and Manufacturing Services of Small Molecules

Forbion, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), its joint venture partner and specialized life sciences venture capital firm focusing on early-stage European biotech companies, together with Lonza today announced the extension of their collaboration to include the development and manufacturing of small molecules.

Basel, Switzerland, 18 January 2022 – Forbion, a leading venture capital firm building life sciences companies, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), its joint venture partner and specialized life sciences venture capital firm focusing on early-stage European biotech companies, together with Lonza, a global development and manufacturing partner to the pharma, biotech and nutrition industries, today announced the extension of their collaboration to include the development and manufacturing of small molecules.

The extended collaboration will provide services relating to small molecules for both Forbion and BGV portfolio companies active in the biopharmaceutical space. The announcement expands the current customer relationship with Lonza, where it provides customized services to Forbion and BGV’s large molecule biologics portfolio companies.

Pnina Weitz, Global Head of Venture Capital Business Development & Relationship Management, Lonza, commented: “This expanded strategic relationship exemplifies our value and capabilities to help advance biotech companies on the path to commercialization. It also highlights our flexibility and commitment to providing high-quality development and manufacturing to serve the clinical needs of our customers’ portfolio companies, whilst also leveraging our GMP manufacturing expertise. The successful collaboration with Forbion in Biologics and their satisfaction with Lonza’s support led to the decision to broaden the relationship to include Small Molecules services.”

Rogier Rooswinkel PhD, Partner at Forbion, added: “As Forbion continues to grow its portfolio, we continue to search for additional ways in which we can further the support we bring to each portfolio company. With this in mind, we look forward to extending the relationship with Lonza that we have built over the last two years on Biologics into the field of Small Molecules.”

Daniela Couto, Partner at BioGeneration Ventures, commented: “The collaboration with Lonza is meant to provide even more flexibility in the early stages of company development in alignment with our fund strategy to nurture and support early-stage companies providing them access to the best resources from the very beginning.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza will provide early development services and scalable manufacturing for small molecules. The offering comprises drug substance development, particle engineering development, oral solid drug product development and regulatory services. Forbion’s and BGV’s portfolio companies will be able to significantly simplify and de-risk the development of their drug candidates by leveraging Lonza’s expertise and global network.

News release (PDF)

About Lonza
Lonza is the preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets. We work to enable a healthier world by supporting our customers to deliver new and innovative medicines that help treat a wide range of diseases. We achieve this by combining technological insight with world-class manufacturing, scientific expertise and process excellence. Our unparalleled breadth of offerings enables our customers to commercialize their discoveries and innovations in the healthcare sector.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, today, Lonza operates across five continents. With approximately 15,000 employees, we comprise high-performing teams and individual talent that make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as to the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 2.5 billion with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 847 million in H1 2021. Find out more at www.lonza.com

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About Forbion
Forbion is a leading European life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Singapore. It manages over EUR1.8 billion in nine closed-end funds which support all stages of medicine development. The Forbion team consists of over forty people of diverse nationalities, and has built an impressive track record since the late nineties with successful investments in around 80 companies. Forbion carefully selects investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of patients, and the firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Besides financial objectives, Its investors include the EIF, through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA, Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), AMUF and EFSI facilities and KfW Capital through the Programme, “ERP – Venture Capital Fonds investments”. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

For more information, please visit: www.forbion.com

About BioGeneration Ventures
BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital company, with a focus on early-stage European biotech companies. The Company has a strong track record of significant financial returns through investing in innovations in healthcare and providing the expertise to build world-class companies.
BGV manages over EUR 225 million of funds investing in areas where true scientific innovations, the unmet medical need, and the potential to demonstrate a significant proof of concept all come together.
BGV strives to work with founding teams to mature science and build companies. The Company uses its experience to guide progress into clinical trials, ultimately leading to successful drug development and value realization for its investors. BGV applies its expertise in a rigorous process to select the most compelling opportunities with the best prospects for exit.
BGV is based in Naarden, The Netherlands. For more information, please visit: www.biogenerationventures.com

Lonza Contact Details

Victoria Morgan
Head of External Communications
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 2283
victoria.morgan@lonza.com

Dr. Martina Ribar Hestericová
Trade Media Lead
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 8982
martina.ribarhestericova@lonza.com

Dirk Oehlers
Investor Relations
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 8540
dirk.oehlers@lonza.com

Forbion Contact Details

Laura Asbjornsen
Head of Communications
Forbion
Tel +31 (0) 35 699 30 00
laura.asbjornsen@forbion.com

BGV Contact Details

Laura Asbjornsen
Head of Communications
Tel +31 (0) 35 699 30 00
info@biogeneration.vc

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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