LOTTE BIOLOGICS Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With U.S.-Based Asimov

• Establishing an End-to-End Service Partnership, From Cell Line Development to GMP Manufacturing
• Providing Differentiated Services to Customers: Collaboration with Asimov’s Cell Line Development Platform Technology

LOTTE BIOLOGICS (CEO James Park) on March 13th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Asimov, a company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, to collaborate in the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) business.

Through this agreement, LOTTE BIOLOGICS plans to leverage Asimov’s next-generation cell line development platform technology to provide end-to-end services, covering the entire process from cell line development to GMP manufacturing. This collaboration is expected to further strengthen LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ CDMO capabilities and track record.

LOTTE BIOLOGICS has successfully completed prior validation of the scalability and large-scale production capabilities of Asimov’s proprietary CHO Edge cell line development platform through pilot testing at its Syracuse Bio Campus. Building on these results, this agreement marks the beginning of full-scale collaboration to provide end-to-end services for customers.

Asimov’s CHO Edge system is a synthetic biology-based cell line development platform that accelerates the production of antibodies and protein therapeutics through genetic design and optimization of CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells. In particular, by incorporating process automation and AI-driven analysis, the platform enables the rapid development of customized cell lines with high productivity and consistency.

The integration of the CHO Edge system with LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ GMP manufacturing capabilities enables a seamless transition from cell line development to commercial production. This collaboration serves as a pivotal milestone, driving both the expansion of LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ CDMO business and the growth of Asimov’s operational reach.

This partnership agreement is also expected to maximize the advantages of LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ U.S.-based manufacturing facility, recently garnering significant attention.

James Park, CEO of LOTTE BIOLOGICS, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “We believe this agreement will unlock the full potential of both companies’ strengths. By combining Asimov’s cutting-edge technology with LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ manufacturing excellence, we will not only deliver unparalleled services to our customers but also drive innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry. Ultimately, our goal is to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives, and we will continue striving to be a company that contributes to a healthier future for all.”

Alec Nielsen, Co-founder and CEO of Asimov, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to see the CHO Edge system seamlessly integrated with LOTTE BIOLOGICS’ robust manufacturing capabilities. This collaboration will enable customers to transition more smoothly from cell line development to large-scale production, significantly accelerating development timelines and bringing innovations to market faster.”

About LOTTE BIOLOGICS

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, LOTTE BIOLOGICS was founded in 2022 with a mission to deliver therapies that contribute to a healthier world.

At the Syracuse Bio Campus in New York, LOTTE BIOLOGICS provides high-quality GMP manufacturing services for drug substances. The facility offers a total production capacity of 40,000L, supported by eight 5,000L stainless steel bioreactors. Additionally, the campus includes extensive analytical QC testing laboratories and warehouse facilities that have received approval from over 62 regulatory agencies worldwide. LOTTE BIOLOGICS is also advancing into a new area of expertise with Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) conjugation services, expected to be fully operational by early 2025. With over $100 million invested in ADC modalities, including both drug substance and conjugation capabilities on-site, we offer a seamless, end-to-end service from drug substance manufacturing to conjugation.

Looking ahead to 2030, LOTTE BIOLOGICS is constructing three advanced bio plants in Songdo, South Korea. With construction of the first plant already underway and expected to be operational by 2027, each facility will feature eight 15,000L stainless steel bioreactors for large-scale commercial production, along with multiple 2,000L single-use bioreactors to meet clinical production needs. Collectively, these plants will provide a manufacturing volume exceeding 360,000L in bioreactor capacity.

More information about LOTTE BIOLOGICS, please visit: www.lottebiologics.com

About Asimov

Asimov’s mission is to advance humanity’s ability to design living systems, enabling biotechnologies with outsized societal benefit. The company is developing a synthetic biology platform – from cells to software – to design and manufacture next-generation therapeutics, including biologics, cell/gene therapies, and RNA through a combination of products, services, and collaborations.

Founded by bioengineers from MIT and Boston University and headquartered in Boston, the company has raised over $200 million from top institutional investors including Andreessen Horowitz, CPP Investments, Horizons Ventures, and Fidelity Management & Research Company. For more information, visit www.asimov.com.