Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced on Jan. 19, 2021 that it is acquiring Mesa Biotech, a US-based molecular diagnostic company for $450 million in cash.

Under the terms of the agreement, Thermo Fisher will pay an additional $100 million in cash if certain milestones are reached after the closing of the transaction, which is set for the first quarter of 2021, Thermo Fisher said in a company press release.

Through the acquisition, Thermo Fisher will have access to Mesa’s PCR-based rapid point-of-care testing platform for detecting infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, and Strep A, the press release said.

"Mesa Biotech's innovative platform will enable us to accelerate the availability of reliable and accurate advanced molecular diagnostics at the point of care. Since the start of the pandemic, Thermo Fisher has acted quickly to provide support to the scientists and healthcare professionals at the frontlines of combating COVID-19," said Mark Stevenson, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, in the press release. "The addition of Mesa Biotech's easy-to-use, rapid PCR-based test is highly complementary to our existing offering and will further help us meet the continuing demand for COVID-related testing while we work to rapidly scale and develop point-of care tests for other infectious diseases in the future."

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Through the acquisition, Thermo Fisher will have access to Mesa’s PCR-based rapid point-of-care testing platform for detecting infectious diseases.

Thermo Fisher to Acquire Mesa Biotech for $450 Million

Loxo Oncology at Lilly, a research and development group of Eli Lilly and Company, and Merus, a Netherlands-based clinical-stage oncology company, announced on Jan. 19, 2021 that they are entering into a research collaboration and exclusive license agreement to research and develop up to three CD3-engaging T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody therapies using Merus' proprietary Biclonics platform for up to $1.6 billion.

Through the agreement, Merus will receive an upfront cash payment of $40 million, an equity investment by Lilly of $20 million, and $540 million in potential development and commercialization milestones per product, Eli Lilly said in a company press release. Merus will handle the discovery and early-stage research activities of the products, while Loxo Oncology at Lilly will lead additional research, development, and commercialization activities.

"CD3-engaging bispecific antibodies are rapidly becoming one of the most transformative immune-modulating modalities used to treat cancer. We expect these therapies will become an important component of the Loxo Oncology at Lilly biologics strategy," said Jacob Van Naarden, chief operating officer of Loxo Oncology at Lilly, in the press release. "Merus has built a differentiated platform and one that we believe can enable us to create bispecific antibody therapies with wider therapeutic indexes than those available today. We look forward to working closely with Merus to develop new potential medicines for patients with cancer."

"The collaboration with Loxo Oncology at Lilly and their world class research capabilities opens up exciting possibilities for Merus' Biclonics platform," added Bill Lundberg, MD, president and CEO at Merus, in the press release. "Our CD3 T-cell engager platform includes over 175 novel and diverse anti-CD3 common light chain antibodies across a wide range of affinities and attributes and enables functional screening of large libraries for optimal performance. We look forward to working together with Loxo Oncology at Lilly to define a new generation of medicines to treat cancer."

The companies will develop up to three CD3-engaging T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody therapies using Merus' proprietary Biclonics platform.

Loxo Oncology at Lilly and Merus Enter into Bispecific Antibody Partnership for up to $1.6 Billion

Contec announced on Jan. 19, 2020 that it has introduced ReFIBE sterile cleanroom wipes, sustainable polyester wipes made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.

According to a company press release, the plastic bottles are first chopped into flakes and cleaned, then the flakes are melted, filtered, and formed into chips, which are melted and made into yarn. Finally, the yarn is knitted into sterile and non-sterile 9” x 9” and 12” x 12” ReFIBE wipes.

Laser-cut with heat-sealed edges, ReFIBE are cleanroom laundered and made with 100% polyester, Contec said in the press release.

“ReFIBE has been such a fulfilling project to work on,” said Amy Russ, global project manager for the Cleanroom Division at Contec, in the press release. “We consider it our responsibility to offer clean, sustainable alternatives to our customers, and ReFIBE wipes are just the beginning. We are excited to develop more sustainable options for both existing Contec products and new innovations in the months and years to come.”

ReFIBE sterile cleanroom wipes are sustainable polyester wipes made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.

Contec Introduces Sustainable Cleanroom Wipes

CPhI Worldwide, organized by Informa Markets, announced on Jan. 15, 2021 that the CPhI event, which was originally scheduled for Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2021 at the Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy, will be rescheduled for Nov. 9–11, 2021 at the same venue. The decision was made based on the hope that COVID-19 vaccine programs are fully advanced and that international travel is permitted.

“At CPhI Worldwide, we understand the importance of meeting face-to-face with your peers and potential business partners,” the CPhI Worldwide Team said in a press release. “The new dates will also hopefully ensure COVID-19 vaccination programs are well advanced, creating more certainty around international travel and ensuring the event is as successful as possible, delivering you the same opportunities and the experience you’ve come to expect from CPhI Worldwide.

The CPhI event, which was originally scheduled for Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2021 at the Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy, will be rescheduled for Nov. 9–11, 2021 at the same venue.

CPhI Worldwide Moves to November 2021

Leukocare, a German biotechnology company, announced on Jan. 11, 2021 that it has officially launched its development laboratories and offices in Milford, MA.

According to a company press release, the new US offices will give the company the ability to support its US-based customers on site while continuing to collaborate with its global team. The offices and laboratories are located on Rentschler Biopharma´s Milford premises, where the companies will continue to carry out their global strategic alliance that was established in 2017.

“I am delighted to announce the opening of Leukocare´s US site today,” said Michael Scholl, CEO at Leukocare, in the press release. “The company´s outstanding development over the last few years led to our desire of establishing a presence in the largest pharmaceuticals market worldwide. This strategic step enables us to be even closer to both our US and global customers and to better understand and serve their needs. Furthermore, the existing infrastructure of Rentschler in Milford—that we will partially make use of—allows us to start operations without any delay and, thus, makes Milford the perfect choice for our newly established US site. We therefore will continue to pursue our strategy of pushing boundaries of biopharmaceutical product development by combining innovative biostatistics, artificial intelligence, and vast formulation expertise with first-class analytics.”

The new US offices will give the company the ability to support its US-based customers on site while continuing to collaborate with its global team.

Leukocare Opens Development Laboratories and Offices in Massachusetts 

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced on Jan. 15, 2021 that it has completed its acquisition of Henogen, Novasep’s viral vector manufacturing business in Belgium, for EUR 725 million (US$875 million) in cash.

Henogen will be integrated into Thermo Fisher’s Pharma Services business within its Laboratory Products and Services segment, Thermo Fisher said in a company press release. The new business offers contract manufacturing services for vaccines and therapies to biotechnology companies and features 7000 m2 of clinical and commercial manufacturing capacity.

“Novasep’s viral vector business is an excellent strategic fit as Thermo Fisher continues to expand its capabilities for cell and gene vaccines and therapies globally,” said Michel Lagarde, executive vice-president of Thermo Fisher, in the press release. “The addition of their manufacturing capabilities in Europe complements our four development and manufacturing sites in North America. In addition, they bring an incredibly talented team with more than two decades of experience across a broad range of viral vectors. The combination will benefit our global customers seeking support and capacity in the region as well as European customers bringing new medicines to patients inside and outside of Europe.”

“Thermo Fisher is an outstanding partner for our viral vector business and its future development,” added Michel Spagnol, president and CEO of Novasep, in the press release. “Our diverse customer base will benefit from the combination of our viral vector services capabilities with the scale and capabilities of Thermo Fisher. Our talented employees will bring deep expertise to an organization that shares our commitment to providing ground-breaking new medicines to patients.”

Henogen will be integrated into Thermo Fisher’s Pharma Services business within its Laboratory Products and Services segment.