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Drug Solutions Podcast: 

Pharmaceutical packaging must advance to adapt to new, complex modalities

Out-of-the-Box Packaging Advancements

From Theory to Reality: Automating Process Development

Drug Digest: 

The Importance of Appropriate Supplier Oversight

Ask the Expert

Sustainability in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The pharmaceutical industry has been moving toward more environmentally friendly practices over the past decade. Regulators have also created sustainability requirements, especially in Europe.

“European regulations are particularly stringent on emissions and product lifecycle sustainability, and they have guided a lot of our initiatives such as a co-design, or carbon offset partnerships,” says Charles Ruban, president and CEO, Verdot.

Both small-molecule and large-molecule drug manufacturing have their own challenges, according to Ruban. Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is energy-intensive and creates material waste during production. Ruban says Verdot approaches the challenges of sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing by designing energy-efficient equipment that optimizes the use of material.

“We're partnering with suppliers committed to systemic sustainability, so our carbon-neutral initiative reflects the commitment of overcoming those models while enabling appliances to globally reduce their environmental footprint,” says Ruban.

Click the video above to watch the interview.

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Pharmaceutical Technology® spoke with Charles Ruban, president and CEO, Verdot, about the focus of moving to sustainability practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Feliza Mirasol is the science editor for 

In a public disclosure issued on Jan. 13, 2025, Samsung Biologics said it has signed a contract manufacturing agreement worth more than $1.4 billion with a Europe-based pharmaceutical company, whose name was not disclosed. Production will take place at Samsung Biologics’ Songdo, South Korea, manufacturing site, and the agreement is expected to run through December 2030, subject to change (1).

The agreement bodes well for Samsung Biologics’ prospects for 2025. At a presentation given during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held Jan. 13–16, 2025 in San Francisco, Calif., the company highlighted several key updates coming up in 2025.

In April 2025, the company expects to complete construction of its fifth biomanufacturing plant, which will be housed on its new Bio Campus II, also expected to open in April. The new plant will add 180,000 L of biomanufacturing capacity, bringing the company’s total global capacity to 784,000 L. The company is also considering constructing a sixth plant as a proactive response to the rising demand for biologics. A sixth plant would raise its total production capacity to 964,000 L, pending board approval.

The company also began offering new services this year to support antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These ADC services build on the company’s expertise in large-scale antibody manufacturing and process engineering and spans late discovery, development, and conjugation.

“Despite industry challenges, Samsung Biologics is well positioned to kick-start a new phase of growth in 2025 with the opening of Bio Campus II and launch of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) services,” John Rim, CEO and president, Samsung Biologics, said at the presentation given in the conference (2). “We’ll continue to invest in new modalities and technologies to better address client needs, maximizing satisfaction and ensuring the delivery of highest-quality products.”

Expanded drug product (DP) services: the company is investing in pre-filled syringe (PFS) capabilities and expects to have a fully automated PFS DP line will be current good manufacturing practice-ready capabilities by 2027.

Enhanced development capabilities: To better support global pharma and emerging biotech companies, Samsung Biologics is investing in core development capabilities and plans to offer services that incorporate new technology platforms, including its S-HiCon, S-Tensify, S-AfuCHO, and S-OptiCharge platforms to ensure increased productivity and higher quality of molecule.

Digital transformation: the company also intends to continue investing in further building its integrated digital systems in order to maximize operational efficiency by incorporating artificial intelligence and digital twin technology.

Furthermore, the company announced that it plans to open a regional office in Tokyo this year to boost its ability to offer local support and grow its partnerships in Japan.

1. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics Signs Manufacturing Deal with Europe-based Pharma. Fact Sheet. Jan. 13, 2025.
2. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics Presents Business Updates at 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Press Release. Jan. 15, 2025.

Articles

Production is set to take place at Samsung Biologics’ Songdo, South Korea, site, and the agreement will run through December 2030, subject to change.

Samsung Biologics Scores Major Manufacturing Deal Worth Over $1.4 Billion with European Pharma Company

Patrick Lavery is an Editor for the MJH Life Sciences brands 

. Previously at MJH, he filled the same role for 

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Almac Sciences, which is part of Almac Group, announced on Jan. 16, 2025 that it is investing £500,000 (US$611,500 approximately) in state-of-the-art instrumentation to be deployed in its spectroscopy laboratories at the company’s global headquarters in Craigavon, United Kingdom (1).

In a press release, Almac said it recently purchased an Agilent 6545XT AdvanceBio Q-TOF (quadrupole-time-of-flight) mass spectrometer and a Malvern Panalytical Empyrean X-Ray Powder Diffractometer to support its spectroscopy goals.

Almac said the investment is additional with respect to a previously announced £11 million (US$14.7 million) spend, made public in October 2024, that aims to expand the company’s global analytical services capabilities and create 100 jobs (2).

John Malone, PhD, associate director of spectroscopy for Almac Sciences, commented on the variety of services clients will be able to benefit from, including quantitation of genotoxic impurities, trace elemental analysis, isotopic purity determinations, structure elucidation, analysis of peptides, proteins, glycoproteins and antibody products, as well as polymorph screening, confirmation, and quantitation of crystalline phases, according to the press release (1).

“The continued investment and growth in our spectroscopy laboratories underline Almac’s commitment to providing the best analytical facilities for its customers, and seamlessly meeting their needs,” Malone said in the release (1). “We are delighted to offer our clients cutting-edge technology that supports their product safety imperative and accelerates the drug development cycle.”

The Craigavon facility is equipped, according to the press release, with instrumentation that couples with mass spectrometry, including liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and inductively coupled plasma systems, as well as X-ray powder diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance tools (1).

Almac said these instruments, and the continuing investment in them, “substantially increase” capability for solving complex analytical issues, provide additional security for urgent analyses, and allow for superior data integrity controls in the interest of satisfying regulatory compliance.

“As we continue to enhance our analytical capabilities, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering,” Darren Thomas, PhD, Almac vice president of analytical operations, said in the release. “This substantial investment in cutting-edge technology emphasizes our dedication to offering comprehensive analytical solutions to clients around the world."

 spoke with Almac Pharma Services President and Managing Director John McQuaid about how the pharmaceutical industry is growing and what might drive investment in the future.

“There's quite a diverse range of drivers at the moment, anything from the BIOSECURE Act in the [United States], geopolitical factors such as that, right through to technology needs for emerging modalities,” McQuaid said at the time (3). “If I speak about pharmaceutical development ... there's never been a larger number of molecules in clinical development, and we're certainly seeing that increasing demand.”

Click here to watch the entire interview with John McQuaid.

Almac also has locations in Charnwood, UK; Souderton, Pa. in the United States; Athlone, Ireland; and Dundalk, Ireland (2).

1. Almac Sciences. Almac Invests £500,000 in State-of-the-Art Instrumentation Within Spectroscopy Laboratories. Press Release. Jan. 16, 2025.
2. Almac Group. Almac Group Announces £11m Investment to Expand Global Analytical Services. Press Release. Oct. 1, 2024.
3. Thomas, F. 

CPHI Milan 2024: Pharma Industry Growth and Investment.

This investment is additional to and separate from £11 million that was announced in the fall of 2024 for creating new jobs and expanding Almac’s global analytical services capabilities.

Almac Sciences Invests £500K in Spectroscopy Lab Instrumentation

On Jan. 13, 2025, Pharmapack Europe and CPHI announced the key trends they have identified for the pharmaceutical industry going into 2025. High on the list of those trends is the long sought-after return of funding liquidity, primarily from increased venture capital investments and private equity capital for mergers and acquisitions. Enhanced supply chain resilience is also anticipated in the year.

Conversely, the entities have identified insecurities that are expected to plague the 2025 year, including ongoing uncertainty surrounding the intentions and practical implications of the BIOSECURE ACT in the United States as well as Donald Trump’s return as president of the country, which Pharmapack has termed “the Great Known Unknown”.

Yet, despite the uncertainties facing US pharma companies, both Pharmapack and CPHI experts emphasize that strong fundamentals underlining the industry have nurtured widespread optimism. These experts are predicting a landmark year in 2025, which they expect will be driven by a boom in biologics, robust pipelines, and growing profits from glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for treating diabetes and related obesity. In addition, new manufacturing hubs are expected to be established, which will accelerate supply chains. Outsourcing will be a key driver of drug discovery, development, and commercial supply, the experts predict (1).

The uncertainties tied to Trump’s return to office have led many industry analysts to caution an "expect the unexpected" attitude, but the pharma market has responded with “surprising optimism,” notes Pharmapack. “There is even a measured ‘wait-and-see’ attitude toward the controversial appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Remarkably, eight years after our initial New Year’s prediction release on a Trump presidency as the ‘great unknown’ (2), this 2.0 iteration has been met with a surprisingly composed response from the pharma sector. The takeaway? While changes are anticipated and the direction remains difficult to forecast, the industry appears confident that there will be more winners than losers, regardless of the path taken during the next administration,” Pharmapack stated in a press release (1).

The practical implications of the BIOSECURE ACT are expected to continue to evolve until the bill is either passed or rejected in some form. The industry, in the meantime, is already preparing for medium-term changes, such as switching discovery chemistry services to Europe and to Indian contract research organizations. In comparison, development and commercial contracts are being more widely shared, opening up new opportunities, particularly for companies investing in advanced biologics manufacturing with an eye toward lowering costs per gram.

On the Europe front, European markets are expected to drive innovation in drug delivery and packaging forward over the next 12-months. Pharmapack identified Île-de-France as a growing innovation hub for the MedTech sector in 2025, and the region will host Pharmapack Europe 2025 on January 22–23. “[The region]’s highlighted as the ideal location for start-up device and MedTech companies, thanks to its combination of funding opportunities, availability of R&D staff and, crucially, a strong base of pharma manufacturing and packaging resources,” according to the press release.

Pharmapack also emphasizes that the Île-de-France region is expected to play a significant role in both biologic device design and contract filling, based largely on the ongoing demand for GLP-1 drugs. Aseptic filling capacity is expected to be tied up in the clinical filling needs of GLP-1s, especially with generic GLP-1s soon to enter the market in 2025, which may cause delays in the clinical filling of other therapies with smaller volumes, such as oncology-targeted therapies, according to Pharmapack. “The result is that we will see biotechs widening supplier networks and potentially even Big Pharma searching for new partners for GLP-1s,” Pharmapack states in the press release. “Consequentially, contract and device filling is predicted to be a rapid growth area at Pharmapack.”

More than 6000 attendees and more than 370 exhibiting companies are expected to attend Pharmapack Europe this year. Pharmapack is seeing significant growth in participation from early stage companies as well; the conference’s Start-Up Hub is expected to host more than 20 emerging companies. In particular, there has been increasing interest from German and Swiss executives who are seeking new opportunities in development and licensing deals for device and packaging innovations.

The full results of Pharmapack’s report can be accessed on 

. More information about Pharmapack Europe can be found on 

1. Pharmapack Europe. Pharmapack Predictions 2025: the Good the Bad and…. the Donald 2.0. Press Release. Jan. 13, 2025.
2. Wright, T. The Good, the Bad, and the Donald. 

Pharmapack identifies biologic approvals, drug delivery advancements, GLP-1 generics, and the return of funding flow as drivers for a record year in 2025.

Pharmapack Reports on Key Trends for 2025

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Lyndra Therapeutics, of Watertown, Mass., announced on Jan. 15, 2025, a strategic collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific in which Thermo Fisher will provide global clinical research and commercial manufacturing services to Lyndra for its roster of long-acting oral therapies (1).

A press release from Lyndra said that the partnership leverages Thermo’s Accelerator Drug Development services, described as 360-degree contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and contract research organization (CRO) drug development solutions that provide a customizable menu of options encompassing manufacturing, clinical research, and clinical supply chain services (1).

“Lyndra’s clinical research and manufacturing collaboration with Thermo Fisher is a critical step in our mission to transform how patients take medicine, providing the capabilities and scale to bring long-acting oral therapies to broad markets,” said Richard Scranton, MD, president of global product development and chief medical officer of Lyndra Therapeutics, in the press release. “Thermo Fisher will be part of our ecosystem of best-in-class partners as we execute on our go-to-market strategy, allowing Lyndra to focus on what we do best—R&D for innovative long-acting oral therapeutic solutions—while ensuring reliable, scalable manufacturing and clinical trial operations.”

The agreement stipulates that Lyndra will use Thermo Fisher’s end-to-end, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, to manufacture commercial materials at scale (1).

“Thermo Fisher is pleased to collaborate with Lyndra on its revolutionary drug delivery platform, and we look forward to helping bring these groundbreaking, long-acting oral therapies to patients,” said Michael Shafer, executive vice president and president, biopharma services, at Thermo Fisher, in the release. “Leveraging Accelerator Drug Development, our comprehensive CDMO and CRO drug development solutions, exemplifies our commitment to help speed and simplify the complex journey of clinical development.”

Lyndra’s long-acting oral therapies include its lead investigational product, oral weekly risperdone (LYN-005) (1). It and others are designed to deliver medication for a week, or more, with a single dose.

 has been following trends in oral therapies, specifically the oral solid dosage (OSD) market, making that a focal point of its October 2024 coverage of 

, from October 2024, encapsulates numerous experts’ perspectives from CPHI.

Dovetailing with that, Thermo Fisher used the occasion of CPHI Milan 2024 to launch its Accelerator Drug Development offering, as Shafer said at the time, “to support customers as they move critical programs forward to tackle global health challenges with speed, quality, and efficiency” (2). Thermo’s stated goal is for Accelerator Drug Development to impact the pharmaceutical value chain for biotech and large pharmaceutical companies with its customizable manufacturing, clinical research, and clinical supply chain services for small molecule, biologics, and cell and gene therapies.

Click here to listen to the October 2024 Drug Solutions Podcast.

1. Lyndra Therapeutics. Lyndra Therapeutics Announces Strategic Clinical Research and Commercial Manufacturing Services Collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific for Long-Acting Oral Therapies. Press Release. Jan. 15, 2025.
2. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific Showcases Expanded Biopharma Services, Capabilities and Innovations at CPHI Milan 2024. Press Release. Oct. 7, 2024.

The collaboration will leverage Thermo Fisher’s Accelerator Drug Development stable of solutions, which was launched in the fall of 2024.

Lyndra, Thermo Fisher to Partner on R&D for Long-Acting Oral Therapies

On Jan. 13, 2025, Lonza announced that it has partnered with Iconovo, a Swedish company specializing in developing inhalable drugs based on proprietary inhalers and dry powder formulations, to develop spray-dried formulations of an intranasal biologic. The biologic will be administered through Iconovo’s proprietary intranasal device, ICOone Nasal. The companies aim to use a reformulated substance for treating obesity, which follows Iconovo’s strategy to reformulate known pharmaceuticals and replace injections and oral treatments with inhalation dose forms.

Under the agreement, Lonza will develop spray-dried formulations to be administered in the ICOone Nasal device at its site in Bend, Ore., in the United States. At the Bend site, Lonza works on addressing bioavailability challenges and modulating pharmacokinetics to meet target product profiles. The collaboration will identify ideal product properties related to particle size, stability, and device compatibility while preserving biological activity.

“Lonza is a world leader in bioavailability enhancement and renowned for its spray-drying capabilities of biologics. Combined with Iconovo’s unique nasal inhaler, we expect the result to be an unprecedented patient-friendly product, and we hope that this cooperation will lead to a fruitful, long-term collaboration that goes beyond this specific project,” said Johan Wäborg, CEO, Iconovo, in a company press release (1).

ICOone Nasal is a proprietary nasal device that releases a dose when the user inhales. An inhale through each nostril from one inhaler administers a standard dose of the biologic compound, according to the press release.

“Our team at Lonza’s respiratory center of excellence in Bend is pleased to work with Iconovo on its innovative applications, combining Lonza’s particle engineering expertise with Iconovo’s state-of-the-art devices. Delivering non-invasive and accessible therapies to patients in need is a focus area for both companies,” said Kim Shepard, director of Advanced Drug Delivery, Lonza, in the release.

“This collaboration, leveraging Iconovo’s innovative intranasal delivery technology alongside our expertise in spray-dried formulations, underscores our commitment to advancing patient care by developing innovative products. We believe that combining our strengths can lead to the development of patient-friendly products and a long-lasting, successful collaboration,” said Jan Vertommen, vice-president, head of Commercial Development, Small Molecules, Lonza, in the release.

In addition to this collaboration for an inhaled biologic, Lonza expanded its services to support smart capsule companies who are working to develop 

 in December 2024 (2). Smart capsules use electronic or mechanical elements to deliver drugs to the stomach or intestine. Promising applications for smart capsules include the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and other therapeutic fields.

To support these smart capsule developers, Lonza now offers a bespoke development and manufacturing service that focuses on their specific needs. Lonza can tailor its service to certain requirements, such as size, design, and lock mechanisms, and offers a variety of functionalities, including targeted release using a bi-layer manufacturing technology.

1. Lonza. Iconovo and Lonza to Collaborate on the Formulation Development of an Intranasal Biologic. Press Release. Jan. 13, 2025.
2. Lonza. Lonza Launches Tailored Offering for Smart Capsules Companies Developing Oral Delivery Solutions for Biologic Drugs. Press Release. Dec. 3, 2024.

Lonza will work with Iconovo to develop spray-dried formulations for an intranasally delivered biologic using a reformulated biologic drug candidate for obesity.

Lonza and Iconovo Team Up on Intranasal Biologic Candidate

Chris Spivey is director of Industry Relations and Strategic Partnership, MJH Life Sciences.

Behind the Headlines: 2025 Wish List

 is a bi-weekly panel discussion examining the latest trends, readouts, and other factors that drive pharmaceutical news and innovation. Each episode features consultants, venture capitalists, scientists, patient advocates, and journalists discussing the prior weeks’ top news while seeking to highlight the more enduring lessons that hide behind the headlines.

In episode 9, we’re joined by Dr. Vanessa Almendro, PhD, MBA, VP, Head of Science & Technology Innovation at Danaher Corporation; Elliot Berger, Board of Directors and Strategic Advisor at Orientation Marketing; Benjamin McLeod, founder at Convey Bio; and Turna Ray, managing editor, Precision Medicine Online, to discuss what they would most like to see happen in the bio/pharmaceutical industry in 2025.

The panel takes a look at how artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to accelerate drug discovery and development, as well as making the healthcare system more effective. Despite how AI could potentially benefit pharmaceutical processes, there is still an reluctance by some in the industry to adopt AI solutions that are already in place. AI may also be coupled with gene editing to diversify precision medicine.

Strengthening and creating new collaborative structures for rare disorders between academia and industry in 2025 may provide for the development of cost-effective personalized medicines. Gene therapies and allogeneic cell therapies will move forward, according to the panel, and messenger RNA vaccines will continue to progress in other areas besides COVID-19.

Investment, science, and technology will converge to advance these types of therapies. Biotech companies will also be investing in making glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) products more precise in the patient segmentation and expanding on applications of these types of drugs.

Vanessa Almendro, Elliot Berger, Benjamin McCloud, and Turna Ray go behind the headlines to discuss their ‘wish list’ for the progression of trends in the bio/pharmaceutical industry.

London-based Hikma Pharmaceuticals announced in a press release on Jan. 14, 2025, an exclusive commercial partnership, for a period of six years, with Emergent BioSolutions for the sale of Kloxxado (naloxone) hydrochloride (HCl) nasal spray, at a dosage of 8 mg, in the United States and Canada (1). Kloxxado was approved by FDA in April 2021 for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression, in both adult and pediatric patients.

According to the press release, Hikma will continue to produce its 8 mg naloxone HCl nasal spray at its manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio, and then provide it exclusively to Emergent (1).

The incidence and prevalence of opioid use in seven countries has been studied as part of the DARWIN EU project, short for Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network, which began in 2022. In announcing its intention to expand capacity for real-world data studies in 2024, the European Medicines Agency said the completed opioid study, and an additional study on take-home naloxone that was also conducted, helped to determine duration of prescription opioid use, characterization of users, and prescribing and dispensing indications (2).

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Emergent, who have deep experience in getting lifesaving naloxone nasal spray into the hands of those who can use it to help save lives," Hafrun Fridriksdottir, president of Hikma's Generics business, said in the press release. "This partnership combines Hikma's excellent nasal spray manufacturing capabilities with Emergent's well-established naloxone HCl nasal spray commercial expertise and strong stakeholder engagement. Hikma remains committed to ensuring that all forms of naloxone we produce—Kloxxado nasal spray, as well as the injectable vials and prefilled syringes that we will continue to manufacture and market—are widely accessible to all who can benefit from them, including patients, friends, family members and the public health community."

Emergent also distributes Narcan nasal spray, in 4 mg dose, the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter naloxone product for emergency treatment of opioid overdose (1).

Hikma last made headlines in December 2024 when its liraglutide injection was approved by FDA, making it the first generic version of Novo Nordisk’s Victoza, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, in the US, indicated for improving glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes (3).

As for Emergent, word came in June 2024 that Bora Pharmaceuticals, of Taiwan, had expanded its North American footprint by making a $30 million purchase of an 87,000-square-foot sterile manufacturing facility, in Baltimore, Md., that had been previously owned by Emergent (4).

1. Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Hikma Announces Exclusive Commercial Partnership with Emergent BioSolutions for Kloxxado (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 8 mg. Press Release. Jan. 14, 2025.
2. HMA and EMA. 

Big Data Steering Group (BDSG): 2023 Report.

 Jan. 18, 2024.
3. FDA. FDA Approves First Generic of Once-Daily GLP-1 Injection to Lower Blood Sugar in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Press Release. Dec. 23, 2024.
4. Bora Pharmaceuticals. Bora Pharmaceuticals Expands North American Footprint with Agreement to Acquire First Sterile Manufacturing Facility. Press Release. June 20, 2024.

Kloxxado was approved by FDA in 2021 for emergency treatment of opioid overdose, and Emergent also distributes the FDA-approved over-the-counter treatment Narcan.

Hikma and Emergent Enter Six-Year Partnership to Sell Naloxone Spray in US and Canada

Scribe Therapeutics, a genetic medicines company based in Alameda, Calif., announced on Jan. 13, 2025 that it had achieved a success milestone for one of the targets in a research collaboration with Sanofi (1). That partnership, which centers around Scribe’s focus on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology for cell therapies, began in 2022 and was expanded upon in 2023 with the intention of advancing 

Scribe’s CRISPR by Design is a data-driven design and engineering approach that was developed to optimize the company’s CRISPR-based platforms and assets (1). It works by engineering bacterial immune systems into a suite of genome and epigenome editing tools, with the end goal of providing safer and more effective genetic therapies by improving activity, specificity, and deliverability, according to a press release from Scribe.

The release did not reveal exact details of the milestone reached, but the company said it is eligible to receive payments of more than $1.2 billion for the achievement of certain research, development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, as well as royalties described in the “high-single-digit to mid-teen” range (1).

“We are excited about the progress we have made towards creating potentially curative in vivo genetic medicines with a partner like Sanofi,” said Benjamin Oakes, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer of Scribe, in the press release. “The complementary expertise of our teams has enabled the program to move quickly and attain early validation of our CRISPR genome editing technologies. We look forward to further advancement of this program with a direct line of sight towards bringing breakthrough CRISPR-based therapeutics to patients with significant unmet need.”

 program with Sanofi speaks to the versatility and strength of Scribe’s CRISPR-based platforms,” said Svetlana Lucas, PhD, chief business officer at Scribe, in the release. “We are pleased to reach this important milestone and continue progressing our collaboration to accelerate and expand our patient impact globally.”

The 2023 expansion, previously reported, combined Scribe’s proprietary CRISPR XE, or X-Editing, technologies with Sanofi’s targeted, non-viral delivery technologies (2). Scribe received $40 million up front, and it was at that time that the company said the additional $1.2 billion might eventually be available if certain milestones were hit.

At the time, the genomic medicines being worked on through this partnership were primarily concerned with 

 treatment of sickle cell disease, although Scribe said other diseases would also be addressed (2).

“We’re encouraged by what we’ve accomplished to date with Scribe in creating 

 NK [natural killer] cell therapies and now look forward to accelerating our ability to effectively leverage genome editing 

 through Sanofi’s innovative research work in targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), for 

 therapies with the potential to dramatically improve treatment outcomes and ultimately to change patients’ lives,” Christian Mueller, global head of the Genomic Medicine Unit at Sanofi, said in the 2023 release (2).

1. Scribe Therapeutics. Scribe Therapeutics Achieves Milestone for 

 Program in Collaboration with Sanofi. Press Release. Jan. 13, 2025.
2. Scribe Therapeutics. Scribe Therapeutics Expands Collaboration with Sanofi to Advance 

 Genetic Medicines for Sickle Cell and Other Genomic Diseases. Press Release. July 17, 2023.

Although specifics about the milestone were not immediately provided, Scribe is eligible to receive more than $1.2 billion for certain research, development, regulatory, and commercial benchmarks.

Scribe Reports Milestone for In Vivo Program Collaboration with Sanofi

Telix Pharmaceuticals announced on Jan. 13, 2025 that it had entered into an asset purchase agreement with ImaginAb, an antibody engineering company based in Inglewood, Calif. (1). The acquisition gives Telix a pipeline of next-generation therapeutic candidates, a proprietary and novel biologics technology platform, and a protein engineering and discovery research facility, which is located in California.

Included in the transaction are early stage drug candidates against high-value targets, among them namely DLL3 and integrin αvβ6, plus other novel targets that are still in the discovery stage (1).

Telix’s lead imaging product, gallium-68 (marketed under the brand name Illuccix), has been approved by FDA, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, and Health Canada (1).

The purchase price for the transaction is US$45 million (AU$73 million), including a deferred payment of up to US$4 million in equity by the conclusion of a 15-month period of indemnity (1). As certain milestones are achieved, Telix has agreed to pay up to a US$185 million total, with royalties also payable on net sales.

“The combination of a proprietary drug discovery platform, pipeline of promising theranostic assets, and a talented team of subject matter experts will enhance Telix’s research and innovation capability now and into the future,” Richard Valeix, chief executive officer, therapeutics for Telix, said in a company press release (1). “This acquisition will enable Telix to explore new disease areas with state-of-the-art radiotherapeutic technology.”

Intellectual property, meanwhile, utilizing small, engineered antibody formats that enable highly specific cancer targeting, and fast tumor uptake and blood clearance, has also been acquired by Telix from ImaginAb.

ImaginAb, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops engineered antibodies which the company said in the release maintain the specificity of full-length antibodies while remaining biologically inert within the body (1). These antibodies are designed to bind specifically to cell surface targets using positron emission tomography and optical imaging technology, according to the release.

“As the radiopharmaceutical sector gains momentum, there is a significant need for targeting agents to be more selective, deliver less off-target radiation, and better match the pharmacology and radiobiology of a given radionuclide,” Anna M. Wu, PhD, co-founder and board member of ImaginAb, said in the release. “The team’s deep expertise in antibody engineering and the resulting development of a valuable, proprietary platform technology has led to clinical proof-of-concept. Telix is the right partner to unlock the future therapeutic potential of this platform.”

Also on January 13, Telix, which is based in North Melbourne, Australia, announced that it had exceeded its previously stated guidance of US$490 million to US$510 million for fiscal year 2024 with a reported total unaudited full-year 2024 revenue of approximately US$517 million. That revenue was bolstered by a figure of US$142 million in the fourth quarter, which the company said represented an increase of 46% over the 2023 fourth quarter (2).

1. Telix Pharmaceuticals. Telix to Acquire Next-Generation Therapeutic Assets and Innovative Biologics Technology Platform. Press Release. Jan. 13, 2025.
2. Telix Pharmaceuticals. Telix Exceeds FY24 Guidance with US$142M Q4 Revenue. Press Release. Jan. 13, 2025.

The transaction adds a pipeline of early-stage drug candidates against high-value targets to Telix’s portfolio, along with other novel targets currently in the discovery stage.

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