Lonza earmarks $15m for ADC plant expansion
pharmafile | January 14, 2013 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â ADC, API, Lonza, NovasepÂ
Swiss contract manufacturer Lonza has said it will invest around 14 million francs ($15m) in new capacity for antibody drug conjugates at its facility in Visp.
ADCs combine antibodies to target diseased tissues or cells with chemical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to exert an additional therapeutic effect, and are a fast-growing area for the pharma sector with most of the top firms developing them for cancer and other indications.
Despite the interest, “manufacturing of ADCs presents unique challenges”, according to Lonza, which notes that facilities must be able to handle both biological and highly-potent cytotoxic small molecule drugs.
The company said it has been active in manufacturing ADCs since 2006 when it established production suites for both small- and large-scale projects at Visp, as well as quality control labs and R&D units dedicated to the drug class.
A number of other companies have been boosting ADC production capacity in recent quarters. Last April India’s Piramal Healthcare opened a new production unit for the class at its facility in Grangemouth, Scotland. The following November, France’s Novasep said it would invest €3 million in additional capacity for the small-molecule components of ADCs.
Lonza expanded its own capacity for high-potency active ingredients in 2011 with a $27 million investment in fermentation and chemical capabilities, along as well as bioconjugation expertise.
The expansion of the ADC facility is due to complete in the second quarter of 2014 and will double the existing large-scale manufacturing capacity in Visp “while allowing current operations to continue without interruption”, said Lonza.
“We have witnessed significant growth in the ADC market in the past 24 months and this investment is necessary to continue to support the growing product demands from our customers”, said Stefan Stoffel, Head of Lonza’s chemical manufacturing business unit.
Phil Taylor
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