KBI Biopharma and Argonaut Manufacturing Services Team Up on Drug Substance and Drug Product Manufacturing Solutions

KBI Biopharma (KBI), a JSR Life Sciences company, and Argonaut Manufacturing Services (Argonaut), announced on Jan. 16, 2024 that they have entered into a strategic alliance with the goal of offering end-to-end drug substance and drug product manufacturing solutions. The arrangement is expected to provide integration of drug substance and drug product manufacturing by combining KBI’s drug development and biologics manufacturing services with Argonaut’s expertise in sterile fill/finish.

“At KBI Biopharma, we have always been committed to delivering innovative solutions that accelerate the development and manufacturing of life-saving therapeutics,” said J.D. Mowery, president and CEO of KBI Biopharma, in a company press release. “Our … facilities and … team have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in biopharmaceutical development. Similarly, Argonaut has established itself as a trusted provider in the industry, known for its cutting-edge technologies and … track record in drug product manufacturing. Their commitment to quality and efficiency aligns perfectly with our own values and vision. This collaboration represents a new era of collaboration and innovation in the biopharma industry.”

“We believe this strategic alliance resolves a key issue for biopharmaceutical organizations as it greatly improves the alignment and integration between two complex and critical aspects of drug development and manufacturing,” said Wayne Woodard, founder and CEO of Argonaut, in a company press release. “Biopharmaceutical companies will benefit from an integrated solution that is faster, more flexible, and leverages the unique expertise of our two organizations.”

“Argonaut’s fill/finish capabilities are scalable from first-in-human clinical material for rare diseases through commercial batches of approved products. With this collaboration, biopharmaceutical organizations can now seamlessly move from development to full-scale manufacturing, saving both time and capital expenditures,” Woodard also said in the release.

Argonaut had previously announced a capital investment in January 2023 for the significant expansion of its Carlsbad, Calif., manufacturing facilities. The expansion includes increased capacity and scale.

Source: KBI Biopharma