Lonza Expanding Swiss Microbial Operations

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Swiss contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Lonza Group (Basel, Switzerland) is planning a 50% boost in production capacity and laboratory space at its microbial operations in Visp, Switzerland.

The company is investing in additional microbial development capabilities at the site, increasing capacity of development services targeting microbial-derived proteins with expanded laboratory space and equipment to be in use by the end of 2021. The news comes just months after Industrial Info reported that the company had revealed a series of major projects for Visp, including a new $218 million small molecule manufacturing complex and separate plans to double the drug substance production for Moderna's (NASDAQ:MRNA) (Cambridge, Massachusetts) COVID-19 vaccine. For additional information, see May 5, 2021, article--Lonza Building New Swiss Plant, Expands Moderna COVID-19 Manufacturing Deal.

Shiva Khalafpour, vice president, head of microbial business unit, Lonza, commented: "The microbial-derived pipeline is growing at a healthy rate driven by an increase in alternatives to antibodies such as nanobodies, designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), single-chain antibodies, etc. For some of these molecules, microbial systems show better and more efficient productivities, which is increasing the trend toward outsourcing as customers need to rely on key microbial expertise. Expanding our development laboratories will enable us to support new customers with the development and manufacture of these molecules and other recombinant proteins for both clinical and commercial projects."

New development capacity will consolidate the microbial footprint at the Visp site and add new high throughput equipment and automation processes to drive efficiency and project delivery, the company claimed. The automation upgrades include three liquid handling workstations and other enabling equipment dedicated to upstream and downstream process development as well analytical method development. The expansion includes the installation of a dedicated pilot suite with a 50-liter fermenter and corresponding downstream equipment, which will generate non-GMP product suitable for formulation and toxicology studies. In addition, the pilot facility will enhance the company's internal technology transfer strategy and capability by providing a representative primary recovery scale.

Lonza signed a 10-year production deal with Moderna earlier this year with the goal of producing up to 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine per year across its global network. To date, the European Commission (EC) has signed two deals with Moderna, the first last year for 160 million doses, followed by another deal in February for 300 million doses--150 million in 2021 and an option to purchase an additional 150 million in 2022.

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