Lonza, Anthos Therapeutics Partner on Anti-coagulant Biologic Abelacimab

On June 11, 2020, Lonza announced a partnership agreement with Anthos Therapeutics, a biotech company created by Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis, for the development and manufacturing of abelacimab, a novel, fully human, factor XI and XIa antibody, which could address a range of thrombotic disorders if approved. Abelacimab has the promise to be the first hemostasis-sparing anti-coagulant that may reduce pathological thromboembolism through a mechanism uncoupled from the required, physiological hemostatic pathway, Lonza said in a company press release.

The agreement will take advantage of Lonza’s global network of process development and good manufacturing practices manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States. The partnership will use Lonza’s novel business model designed to support biotech companies and their investors by aligning deliverables, cash flow, and value generation.

The business model is designed to deliver quality, agility, and speed while maintaining an investor focus. Drug substance and drug product capabilities will be conducted under one quality system, and a dedicated team will be tasked to work on abelacimab from start to finish. This development program will use Lonza’s global network of facilities in Basel, Stein, and Visp, Switzerland; Slough, UK; and Tampa, FL, in the US. The program aims to bring products to market faster while reducing investment risk.

“Our partnership with Lonza provides Anthos Therapeutics access to its world-class development and manufacturing expertise. The integrated drug substance, drug product, and labeling/packaging offering enables efficiency and speed to accelerate patient access to this potentially life-preserving therapy. Importantly, Lonza’s value-based milestone-driven business model addresses the product, timeline, and financial needs of our company and our investors,” said Jonathan Freeman, PhD, co-founder and chief operating officer, Anthos Therapeutics, in the press release.

“Partnering with Anthos Therapeutics reinforces the value of our milestone business model designed to meet the unique needs of virtual biotechs and their investors. We recognize that innovative funding and partnership approaches are necessary to help bring vital medicines to patients. By leveraging this model, together with our end-to-end Ibex Develop offering, we can help virtual and small biotech-companies accelerate bringing drugs to patients, navigate demand uncertainty, and reduce investment risks,” said Karen Fallen, president, head of Mammalian & Microbial Development & Manufacturing, Lonza, in the press release.

Source: Lonza