Lonza entered into a long-term global collaboration, supply and distribution agreement in the field of cell culture media with Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB). Cell culture media are growth substances and nutrients for cells or micro-organisms and are required in every biopharmaceutical manufacturing process.
In the agreement, SSB will assume global sales and marketing of media and buffers used in the manufacture of protein-based therapeutics and vaccines, while Lonza will continue to carry out development, manufacture and logistics operations for these products. New product development will be mutually performed. The cell culture media, which are usually sold in liquid or powder form to biopharmaceutical customers, are to be successively converted to packaged forms as ready-to-use, pre-filled SSB sterile single-use bags. Furthermore, Lonza and SSB have agreed that these cell culture media will be sold under both brands in a co-branding arrangement. Lonza will maintain commercial responsibility for global sales and marketing of media used for research purposes and in the manufacture of cell-based therapeutics and gene therapy as well as for manufacturing for any of Lonza’s custom manufacturing customers.
In fiscal year 2011, Lonza generated revenues of approximately CHF 25 million in the field of cell culture media. SSB will take over Lonza’s commercial team of about 15 media specialists. Both parties have agreed not to disclose contractual conditions.
Lonza’s cell culture media represent a perfect fit with the portfolio of products supplied by Sartorius Stedim Biotech, which already offers bioreactors and single-use bags and containers as key components for cell cultivation. “I am pleased that we will now be adding a market leading, high-quality array of media and buffers to our product offering,” commented Reinhard Vogt, Member of the Board of Directors, SSB.
Lukas Utiger, COO, Lonza Bioscience said, “For Lonza this agreement provides great upside potential as it will allow us to capture additional value from our media business in the form of additional revenue leading to higher capacity utilisation. Lonza and Sartorius are a great fit as both partners bring complementary strengths to the benefit of our customers.”
EP News Bureau – Mumbai