SHANGHAI and TAIPEI, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX), a leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device research and development outsourcing company with operations in China and the United States, announced today that it had completed a cell culture capacity expansion, including two 2000L disposable bioreactors that are ready for cGMP manufacturing. Previously WuXi AppTec had built a state-of-the-art cGMP biologics manufacturing facility with two cell culture suites containing a 500L and a 1000L disposable bioreactor, respectively. As a result of this new expansion, WuXi AppTec operates the largest biologics facility with disposable bioreactors in China and the largest disposable bioreactor in the world. The facility has passed GMP audits from global clients and an audit by former U.S. FDA biologics inspectors. WuXi AppTec is now poised to support Phase III clinical manufacturing and initial commercial launch for therapeutic antibody and recombinant protein drugs.
WuXi AppTec also announced completion of the first run of the 2000L disposable bioreactor using an NS0 mouse myeloma cell line for TaiMed Biologics’ ibalizumab, a novel CD4 entry inhibitor for the treatment of HIV/AIDS infection. This event marks an important milestone in the global biologics manufacturing industry. Growing NS0 cells in disposable bioreactors entails significant technical challenges, and there are few reported cases of growing NS0 cells in large disposable bioreactors. Through intensive process research and development, WuXi AppTec reproduced in disposable bioreactors a manufacturing process originally implemented in traditional stainless steel bioreactors, with comparable process performance and product quality.
“Successful completion of our biologics facility expansion and the subsequent 2000L run mark important milestones in WuXi AppTec’s mission of building first-class biologics manufacturing capabilities in China,” said Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WuXi AppTec. “Although there is overcapacity in biologics manufacturing facilities globally, our biologics manufacturing facility is the only one in China that meets global cGMP standards. Through this expansion, we can quickly address increasing market demand for high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing of biologics. The first 2000L run also showcases our solid development and scale-up capabilities in mammalian cell culture. We continue to invest to build our integrated open-access biologics discovery, development, and manufacturing platform to serve our global clients and to play a pivotal role as the gateway for introducing biologics into the Chinese market.”
“WuXi AppTec has made excellent progress in producing clinical-trial supplies for ibalizumab, an important new medicine for global patients,” said Dr. James Chang, Chief Executive Officer of TaiMed Biologics. “We are delighted to have such a skilled and reputable manufacturing partner as we enter into late-phase trials of ibalizumab in the United States and Asia.”
About WuXi PharmaTech
As a research-driven and customer-focused company, WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. provides a broad and integrated portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services throughout the drug and medical device R&D process. WuXi PharmaTech’s services are designed to assist its global partners in shortening the cycle and lowering the cost of drug and medical device R&D. WuXi AppTec is the name for the operating subsidiaries of WuXi PharmaTech. Please visit http://www.wuxiapptec.com.
About TaiMed Biologics
TaiMed Biologics, Inc. is a publicly held Taiwanese biotechnology company with the mission to discover, develop and deliver for the global market innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious infectious diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.taimedbiologics.com.
For more information, please contact:
Ronald Aldridge
Director of Investor Relations
WuXi PharmaTech
+1-201-585-2048
ron_aldridge@wuxiapptec.com
Aaron Shi
Associate Director of Corporate Communications
WuXi PharmaTech
+86-21-5046-4362
pr@wuxiapptec.com
James N. Chang, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
TaiMed Biologics
+1 949-769-6543 (USA)
+886-2-2655-8031 (Taiwan)
jchang@taimedbiologics.com
SOURCE WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc.
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