Lonza wins two biomanufacturing contracts
pharmafile | March 22, 2011 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â Athera Biotechnologies, ENB-0040, Enobia Pharma, Lonza, PC-mAb, asfotase alfa, contract manufacturing, pharma, pharmaceuticalsÂ
Lonza has been awarded two contracts for biological drug candidates in quick succession, including a new deal that will make use of its large-scale US biopharmaceutical facility in New Hampshire.
Switzerland-based Lonza said that it will manufacture Canadian firm Enobia Pharma’s ENB-0040 (asfotase alfa), a bone-targeted enzyme replacement therapy, at the plant in Portsmouth.
ENB-0040 is an orphan drug in phase II clinical development as a treatment for hypophosphatasia, a rare and sometimes fatal metabolic bone disease characterised by rickets, fractures, bone pain and deformity.
“Under the agreement, Lonza will provide process validation and commercial manufacturing at its large-scale biologics site in Portsmouth … with an option to extend production to a second Lonza site,” said the Swiss company in a statement.
The Portsmouth plant has been running at under-capacity for a number of months putting pressure on Lonza’s contract manufacturing business.
The company embarked on a major expansion of the site in 2007, just ahead of the downturn in the global economy which, coupled with a decline in new molecular entities coming onto the market, has left pharma manufacturers with excess production capacity and slowed a trend towards greater use of contract manufacturing.
During 2010 Lonza’s biologics manufacturing capacity across the group was running at between 60% and 75% utilisation, but has latterly started to pick up.
“We are pleased that Enobia places confidence in Lonza’s manufacturing capabilities and has entrusted us to support the launch and commercial supply of their lead drug candidate,” said Dr Stephan Kutzer, chief operating officer at Lonza Custom Manufacturing.
Shortly after announcing the Enobia deal, Lonza unveiled a development and manufacturing agreement with Swedish drugmaker Athera Biotechnologies for PC-mAb, an antibody intended for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome who are at an increased risk of secondary cardiovascular events and death.
Under the terms of the contract Lonza will initiate cell line and process development and will eventually carry out GMP production of the antibody, which is currently in preclinical development.
Phil Taylor
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