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Switzerland-based biopharmaceuticals supplier Lonza and French life sciences firm Sanofi have established a joint venture (JV) to set up a large-scale biologics production facility in Visp, Switzerland.

Designed to support the production of monoclonal antibodies, the project will require an investment of around Sfr290m ($285m), to be shared equally between the two JV partners.

The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2020.

Strategic partnership for the Lonza and Sanofi facility in Visp

Lonza’s partnership with Sanofi is part of its strategy to address the long-term needs of its operating markets by establishing a state-of-the-art strategic biologics manufacturing platform.

According to the terms of the JV, Lonza is free to market its share of the capacity if Sanofi does not require it, as well as any capacity unused by Sanofi.

Both partners also have the flexibility to alter their equity shareholding in the future, and access bio-manufacturing capacity proportionate to their shareholding.

Lonza will bring its expertise in building and operating large-scale mammalian cell culture facilities to the JV project. The company has built three mammalian cell culture facilities in the US and Singapore and has experience in designing, constructing, operating and licensing.

Sanofi will bring its experience in developing and launching biologics-based treatments to the JV. It is estimated that around 60% of Sanofi’s drug pipeline consists of biologics in multiple areas, including cardiovascular, immunology, inflammation, neurology and oncology.

Construction of the Visp biologics facility

In September 2017, a ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the start of construction on the project. The facility is expected to be fully completed in 2020.

 

Marketing commentary on Lonza and Sanofi

Founded in 1897, Lonza supplies custom manufacturing and development services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and speciality ingredients markets.

The company offers a wide range of products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drinking water sanitisers, nutritional and personal care ingredients, agricultural products, industrial preservatives and microbial control solutions. Its pharmaceutical and biotech offerings include custom development and manufacturing, as well as bioscience solutions.

Lonza employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and oversees 40 major manufacturing and research and development (R&D) facilities.

Sanofi is a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and distribution of therapeutic solutions to patients worldwide. In 2015, the group became the world’s fifth largest healthcare company, with aggregate sales of €37bn and a workforce of more than 11,000 employees.

Sanofi has a presence in more than 100 countries and operates industrial sites in more than 40 countries. The company focuses on innovation in human vaccines, rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular and consumer healthcare solutions.

In 2016, Sanofi announced a €300m ($340m) investment to expand its biologics manufacturing site in Geel, Belgium, to support the production of monoclonal antibodies.