GSK signs biopharma deal with Lonza

Lonza has agreed to supply GlaxoSmithKline(GSK) with manufacturing capacity for five early stage monoclonal antibodies to support the development of GSK's biopharmaceutical pipeline.

The agreement will see Lonza – a major supplier to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries – manufacture clinical trial batches of five compounds currently in phase I and II development for GSK.

Flexible capacity will also be provided by Lonza allowing GSK to respond to future progress in the development of the antibodies.

Others details, including financial terms, were not disclosed.

Speaking about the agreement, Dr Stephan Kutzer, chief operating officer of Lonza Custom Manufacturing said: "We see this as a relationship that will bring significant benefits to both parties."

As well as providing manufacturing capacity for GSK, the deal will also see Lonza provide advice on GSK's plans to expand its own biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. This includes the construction of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility within the UK.

"Our goal is to establish a portfolio of biopharmaceutical products that by 2015 consistently exceeds 20 per cent of our R&D pipeline," said Ian Tomlinson, head of biopharm research and development, GSK. "To make this a reality we need to ensure that we have the right resources in place, which include flexible and expert manufacturing capabilities, to enable us to ultimately create and deliver these future medicines to patients."