Week of Apr. 16, 2012: Merck & Co., Endocyte Form Development Pact; West Pharma Adds to NovaPure Brand; and More

Lonza and Agennix have signed a development and manufacturing contract for the production of talactoferrin, an oral dendritic cell-mediated immunotherapy to treat nonsmall-cell lung cancer. Under the agreement, Lonza will produce commercial material at its microbial manufacturing facility in Kouřim, Czech Republic. This agreement initiates the process for Lonza as a second manufacturer of talactoferrin after the initial commercial launch. Read More

Merck & Co. and Endocyte have agreed to develop and commercialize the Phase III cancer candidate vintafolide. Under the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will gain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize vintafolide. Endocyte will receive a $120-million upfront payment and is eligible for milestone payments of up to $880 million based on the successful achievement of development, regulatory, and commercialization goals for vintafolide for a total of six cancer indications. If vintafolide receives regulatory approval. Endocyte has retained the right to copromote vintafolide with Merck in the US and Merck has the exclusive right to promote vintafolide in the rest of world. Endocyte will be responsible for the majority of funding and completion of the Proceed trial. Merck will be responsible for all other development activities and costs and have all decision rights for vintafolide. Endocyte remains responsible for the development, manufacture, and commercialization worldwide of etarfolatide, a noninvasive companion diagnostic imaging agent that is used to identify folate receptor positive tumor cells. Read More

West Pharmaceutical Services has introduced a new line of components under its NovaPure brand at the PDA Annual Meeting. Through a product development process that incorporates quality by design principles. The pure components, include serum and lyophilization stoppers and syringe plungers.

Industry Briefs:

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers. Read More