Lonza, Portola Pharmaceuticals Sign Manufacturing Agreement

On Sept. 5, 2017, Lonza announced a supply agreement with Portola Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in thrombosis and other hematologic diseases, for AndexXa (andexanet alfa), a universal recombinant protein reversal agent for patients on FXa inhibitors who experience a major bleed or need urgent surgery.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza will provide Portola with security of supply, extend current manufacturing commitments at its Porrino, Spain facility, and add long-term manufacturing production in Visp, Switzerland for AndexXa. With this agreement, Lonza adds a client to its new modular manufacturing complex, Ibex, launched in July 2017.

The deal strengthens the companies’ relationship after an earlier collaboration for the clinical manufacturing of andexanet alfa announced in 2014. Additionally, in 2016, Portola signed a loan agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer for the development and commercialization of andexanet alfa in Japan.