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05/16/2007
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| Lonza strengthens its leading position in the microbial biopharma market |
After expanding its capacities for the cGMP manufacturing and process development earlier in 2007 via acquisitions in the USA, Lonza has now finalized the strategy review of its microbial biopharmaceutical business. The new concept optimizes infrastructure to ensure optimal efficiencies in manufacturing, expands technological leadership in process development, guarantees proximity to our customers in key markets and thus secures long-term profitable growth. The activities in the USA will be consolidated in Hopkinton (MA), which will also become Lonza’s Global Headquarters for Microbial Biopharmaceuticals. The revised strategy will deliver the planned turn-around of the microbial biopharma business approximately one year ahead of original expectations.
Basel, May 16, 2007 – In 2007 Lonza became the market leader in the microbial biopharmaceutical market. In addition to its existing small and large scale capacity in Visp (Switzerland) Lonza gained additional biopharmaceutical services capabilities and immediately available small and mid scale manufacturing capacity with the newly acquired biopharma business last February.
In order to secure long-term growth and to further develop the microbial business towards a sustainable and profitable business with manufacturing and technology leadership, Lonza developed a new strategy which will further strengthen the leading position of Lonza as custom manufacturer. In close cooperation and under full agreement of its customers, Lonza will consolidate all US microbial activities in Hopkinton, Massachusetts (USA). Lonza will invest more than USD 30 million in its Hopkinton site to support its microbial process development and manufacturing growth plans. Both the commercial operations and Biopharma Service activities in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) will continue to run for as long as necessary, anticipated to be until early 2008. This will allow for securing sufficient supply of all existing commercial products currently manufactured at the site and to ensure a fully compliant technology transfer to Hopkinton.
The relocation from Baltimore and the subsequent development of the Hopkinton site may result in as many as 250 additional jobs in Hopkinton. Lonza will offer job opportunities to the affected employees of Baltimore in its other US-sites, namely in Hopkinton and at its closely situated Lonza Bioscience Headquarters in Walkersville, Maryland. Employees will also be able to take advantage of other support, such as various outplacement opportunities as well as severance and retention packages.
“With the new organization in place, we will be able to offer our customer a unique service in process development and manufacturing as well as a globally leading technology platform. The consolidation of our microbial biopharmaceutical business in Visp and Hopkinton creates sustainable value for our customers, our investors and accelerates the planed turnaround of the acquired assets”, said Stephan Kutzer, Head of Lonza Biopharmaceuticals.
About Lonza Microbial Biopharmaceuticals
In the microbial biopharmaceutical business Lonza produces therapeutic proteins, fragmented antibodies, vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals based on microbial expression platforms.
Lonza’s capabilities as Custom Manufacturer for microbial biopharmaceuticals build on 20 years of experience in microbial fermentation in the production of small molecules and 10 years of experience in the area of microbial biopharmaceuticals. Lonza Custom Manufacturing services are fully integrated from the development of new or existing lab-scale processes, through clinical supply to full scale commercial production.
The newly positioned microbial biopharmaceutical business, headquartered in Hopkinton, MA (USA) offers:
- Technology research platform, located in Visp, Switzerland.
- Full range of Biopharma Services from strain development through cGMP lab scale production (incl. genetic engineering, process/assay development), located in Hopkinton and Visp.
- Full range of manufacturing up to the 15 000 L scale, from early phase to commercial production (life cycle management, tech transfer and operational excellence), located in Hopkinton and Visp.
About Lonza
Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Its products and services span its customers’ needs from research to final product manufacture. Lonza is the global leader in the production and support of pharmaceutical active ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. Lonza is also a leading provider of value added chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.
Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange. In 2006 Lonza had sales of CHF 2.91 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.
For further information:
Investor / Media Relations Lonza
Margot Connor
Tel +41 61 316 8566
Fax +41 61 316 9566
margot.connor@lonza.com
Media Relations Lonza German
Dominik Werner
Tel +41 61 316 8798
Fax +41 61 316 9798
dominik.werner@lonza.com
Investor Relations Lonza
Alexandre Pasini
Tel +41 61 316 8835
Fax +41 61 316 9835
alexandre.pasini@lonza.com
North America Media Inquiries:
Melanie Disa
Tel +1 201 316 9413
Fax +1 201 696 3533
Mobile + 1 845 270 0548
melanie.disa@lonza.com |
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