Lonza, Sartorius Stedim Biotech Modify Relationship for Supply of Cell-Culture Media
Under the new long-term agreement, Sartorius Stedim Biotech will continue to offer Lonza media and buffer products under non-exclusive terms.
On Nov. 15, 2018, Lonza and Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB) announced that they have modified their current agreement for supply of cell-culture media by mutual accord.
The original agreement, signed in 2012, gave SSB exclusive sales and marketing rights for certain media and buffers developed and manufactured by Lonza for use in biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Lonza retained sales for research-based products, among others.
Under the new terms, SSB will continue to offer current and future Lonza media and buffers on a non-exclusive basis as part of its extensive portfolio of products for cell-based development and manufacturing. Lonza Pharma & Biotech resumes sales and marketing of all its media products for both manufacturing and research. Customers of both companies will continue to be able to source media products for their specific needs.
Both companies have also entered into a further long-term agreement for supply of equipment and consumables. Under the new agreement, SSB will be a preferred supplier for specific Lonza projects.
“We have a long-standing and productive partnership with SSB, and we will continue to work together to provide solutions for customers as they bring medicines to patients,” said Marc Funk, COO Lonza Pharma & Biotech, in a company press release. “As new generations of complex biologics move toward commercial production, media is no longer viewed as a consumable but as a critical part of the package we offer customers developing next-generation therapies, so we are investing accordingly in this area.”
Additionally, Lonza reports that it is currently investing in its media business and will open a new R&D facility in Rockville, MD, by the end of 2018. The new R&D center will support the nearby Walkersville, MD, site in media formulation. As biologic-based medicines, including next-generation antibody-based therapeutics and cell and gene therapies, become increasingly complex, media formulations need to be tailored to specific processes, according to Lonza. The new center will ensure a robust platform for current and future growth while providing new solutions.
Source: Lonza
