Lonza Biologics and Alexion Pharmaceuticals sign agreement for commercial manufacturing

07-Jan-2003

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the execution of a large scale product supply agreement with Lonza Biologics for the long term commercial manufacture of its C5 complement inhibitor antibody, eculizumab. Alexion recently announced promising clinical results from clinical studies evaluating eculizumab treatment in membranous nephritis patients and patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Additionally, a Phase IIb clinical study is currently ongoing with eculizumab in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Lonza Biologics is extremely excited about this agreement with Alexion and appreciates the confidence Alexion has shown in Lonza by choosing us to provide market supply of eculizumab from our new large scale facility in Portsmouth, NH. We have been fortunate to have worked with Alexion on eculizumab from its early development to current clinical trial supply and look forward to continuing this collaboration," said Markus Gemuend, CEO of Lonza Group.

"We are pleased to conclude this very important agreement with one of the recognized leaders in the manufacture of antibodies," said David Keiser, President and Chief Operating Officer of Alexion. "We have collaborated with Lonza for several years now with respect to the production of eculizumab for use in our clinical trials and as we now gear our activities toward commercialization it was important to secure the manufacturing experience, expertise, state of the art facilities and capacity that Lonza is uniquely positioned to provide."

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous