CDMO Lonza And Bristol-Myers Squibb Expand Manufacturing Agreement
By Cyndi Root
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) continues to focus on biologics manufacturing and has extended its manufacturing agreement with Lonza, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), based in Visp, Switzerland. BMS announced the multi-year contract expansion in a news release, stating that Lonza’s facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire will produce commercial quantities of a biologic medicine.
Lou Schmukler, president of Global Manufacturing and Supply at BMS, said, “Our expanded relationship with Lonza is an important example of our global manufacturing strategy to meet anticipated demand for our commercial biologics portfolio and prepare to bring our late-stage clinical assets to patients by supplementing our in-house manufacturing capabilities.”
Lonza and BMS Agreement
The new agreement between Lonza and BMS is an extension of the partnership that began in 2003. The two companies did not disclose the product to be manufactured or discuss the financial terms of their new arrangement. Currently, Lonza is producing BMS biologics for investigational studies and is scaling production for commercialization. Marc Funk, COO of Lonza’s Pharma & Biotech Segment, also commented on the partnership, "We are pleased to extend our relationship with Bristol-Myers Squibb for the commercial production of their innovative drug substance.”
BMS Biologics
BMS is working quickly to develop biological treatment, such as immunotherapies to treat cancer. Recently, its investigational agent Opdivo (nivomulab), showed efficacy in a Phase 2 trial, and BMS is seeking regulatory approval for it in the treatment of advanced squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The company publishes its clinical trials, including those using immunotherapies against oncology targets.
Lonza Activities
Lonza has also been busy as of late investing in its facilities and securing manufacturing agreements. In addition to the New Hampshire site, Lonza also has facilities in Tuas, Singapore; Porrino, Spain; and Slough, United Kingdom. In June 2014, Lonza announced that it was preparing to scale Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) production, investing in technology and facility improvements at its facility in Visp. In October 2014, Lonza agreed to supply Portola with andexanet alfa, a recombinant Factor Xa molecule that reverses the effects of Factor Xa inhibitors. The company reported in its half-yearly report that despite worldwide currency fluctuations, all business units, including specialty ingredients, showed solid performance.