Lonza has bolstered its presence in the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) by extending its manufacturing collaboration with a renowned biopharma company. This strategic move involves the expansion of its bioconjugation operations at the Ibex Biopark located in Visp, Switzerland. Under this new agreement, Lonza will construct a bioconjugation suite encompassing roughly 800 square meters of space. The suite is slated to be operational by 2027 and is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs, part of Lonza’s commitment to fostering local employment and driving innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry. This facility will be dedicated to the manufacture, handling, and containment of highly potent modalities, reinforcing Lonza’s role as a key player in the ADC market.
This collaborative venture also involves Lonza providing commercial-scale monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing services for a novel ADC therapy targeting solid tumors. The bioconjugation suites at Visp will be closely aligned with Lonza’s biologics facility in Porriño, Spain, where the mAbs will be manufactured. These antibodies will occupy a significant portion of the Porriño site’s capacity before being transported to the new facility at Visp for conjugation. By integrating these stages under one collaborative framework, Lonza aims to offer a streamlined supply chain that includes the production of highly potent payloads, drug-linkers, commercial mAb manufacturing, conjugation services, and drug product filling. This integrated approach is anticipated to simplify product delivery and diminish supply chain complexities, enhancing the overall efficiency of therapeutic production.
Christian Morello, Vice President and Head of Bioconjugates at Lonza, highlighted the comprehensive nature of this expanded collaboration, which now envelops all stages of bioconjugate manufacturing and commercialization. He emphasized the advantages of providing end-to-end ADC services, a sentiment echoed by Jean-Christophe Hyvert, President of Lonza’s Biologics division. Hyvert noted that bioconjugates are projected to see significant growth spurred by market demand, increased therapeutic efficacy, and newfound access to previously untargeted disease areas. This holistic and integrated methodology is poised to streamline production processes, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of therapies aimed at treating challenging and hard-to-treat cancers.
The expansion was set to play a crucial role in addressing the growing need for effective cancer therapies, marking a milestone in Lonza’s strategic initiatives within the biopharma landscape.
