BioPharm

34 BioPharm International eBook March 2018 www.biopharminternational.com Outsourcing Resources Market Investment adding infrastructure for safety assessment, and generating revenue growth. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018, according to Charles River. Charles River has also acquired KWS BioTest, a CRO specializing in in vitro and in vivo discovery testing services for immuno-oncology and inflammatory and infectious dis- eases, for approximately £15 million (USD$21 million) in cash, according to a Jan. 11, 2018 press release (2). The acquisition of KWS BioTest provides additional and complemen- tary tools, strengthening Charles River's capabilities in the oncology and immunology therapeutics areas. In addition to the initial purchase price, the transaction includes a potential additional payment of up to £3 million (USD$4 million) based on future performance. "The addition of KWS strategi- cally expands Charles River's exist- ing discovery capabilities in the f ield of immunolog y, which is critical given the importance of new therapies which harness the human immune system. In addi- tion to enhancing our position as the [single-source] provider for a broad portfolio of discovery ser- vices, KWS increases our ability to support clients' early-stage drug research in critical therapeutic areas, and expands our geographic footprint in the United Kingdom," said James C. Foster, chairman, president and CEO of Charles River, in a company press release. In Januar y 2018, Asahi Glass C ompa ny (AG C) Biosc ie nce, a g l a s s a n d c h e m i c a l p r o d u c e r u nder AG C, Biomeva GmbH, a contract manufacturing organiza- tion (CMO), and CMC Biologics, a contract biologics manufacturer, i nteg r ate d to for m t he newly- branded AGC Biologics (3). AGC Biologics will provide con- tract development and manufac- turing organization services from its facilities in the following sites: Seattle, Washington and Berkeley, California; Copenhagen, Denmark; H e id e l b e r g , G e r m a ny ; C h i b a , Japan; and Yokohama, Japan. The integrated company w ill specialize in customized services for the scale-up and cGMP man- ufacture of protein-based thera- peutics and plans to continue its global presence with microbial and mammalian capabilities by fulfill- ing early phase through late-phase projects, both at small and large scale. AGC acquired CMC Biologics in Febr uar y 2017, and Biomeva GmbH was acquired by AGC in September 2016 (4,5). A l s o i n J a n u a r y, M e i s s n e r Filtration Products, a developer, ma nu fac t u rer, a nd suppl ier of microfiltration and single-use sys- tems, acquired PDC Aseptic Filling Systems, a supplier of aseptic fill- ing systems and sealers (6). PDC's products will add to Meissner's current process solutions, which include filtration, single-use sys- tems, f luid handling, and unit processing offerings. The filling systems enable automated aseptic filing of pharmaceutical process liquids, while the sealing equip- ment reduces cycle times associ- ated with aseptic disconnections, according to the company. EXPANDED SERVICES AND FACILITIES Sa msu ng BioL og ics, a cont rac t development and manufacturing organization based in Incheon, South Korea, announced on Feb. 22, 2018 that it has entered into its first manufacturing contract for a pipeline product at its new Pl a nt 3 f a c i l it y c omple te d i n November 2017 (7). The contract is valued at $148 million if the product is success- ful in the clinic and moves for- wa rd w it h com merc ia l lau nc h, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o m p a n y. The Plant 3 facilit y has a total capacity of 180,000 liters and is expected to be cGMP operational by the fourth quarter of 2018. "We are excited to enter into this partnership with a fast-grow- ing compa ny a nd ver y pleased to be chosen to provide a high- qu a l it y l i fe - s av i ng pro duc t to t he i r p at ie nt s ," s a id T H K i m , CEO of Samsung BioLogics, in a company press release. K i m a l s o s t a t e d t h a t , "A s products from our Plant 1 (6 x 5,000 L) and Plant 2 (10 x 15,000 L) facilities mature, Plant 3 will be utilized to supply those with increasing demand to ensure that we continue to meet our client's demand. We continue to discuss with multiple biopharmaceutical companies for long-term partner- ship in Plant 3. As such, the uti- lization rate in Plant 3 may ramp up more quickly than anticipated." AbbVie is spending $139 million to expand its manufacturing facil- ity in Ballytivnan, Sligo, Ireland, to support the growth of its oncology pipeline. The expansion includes new sterile manufacturing technol- ogy, which will help deliver treat- ments for cancers with significant unmet medical needs, according to a Jan. 16, 2018 press release from Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland, a non-commercial, semi-state body promoting foreign direct investment into Ireland (8). The investment is expected to create approximately 100 new posi- tions at the site over the next three years in technical and manufactur- ing positions, and is supported by the federal government through IDA Ireland, according to the agency. I n F e b r u a r y 2 018 , A B E C , a provider of integrated solutions and services for biopharmaceuti- cal manufact ur ing, announced t he c o mple t io n o f it s s e c o nd

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