Chromos, Lonza in cell production pact
line to Canadian firm Chromos Molecular Systems for a project aimed
at making improved mammalian cells for biological syntheses.
The agreement extends an earlier alliance between the two companies, signed in March, in which Lonza received non-exclusive access to Chromos' ACE expression system for evaluation in its contract manufacturing business.
CHOK1SV is a type of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell, widely used in mammalian cell synthesis, that overcomes the problematic and time consuming process of adapting CHO cells so they can thrive in the desired culture conditions.
Lonza Biologics' cells are pre-adapted, which means that can adapt to the culture environment more quickly.
Under the terms of the agreement, Chromos will be entitled to create production-quality cell lines that combine the established attributes of Lonza's cell line with the qualities of its own ACE System.
The ACE, or artificial chromosome expression, system is a gene-delivery technology used to generate high-expressing cell lines for protein production and is claimed to offer improved speed and protein yields over rival platforms.
An initial agreement with Lonza Biologics in 2002 allowed the firm to assess the value of the technology. The firm, a division of the Swiss chemicals company Lonza, is the world's leading contract manufacturer of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins.
Chromos has the rights to use this combination to engineer production quality cell lines for third parties. In addition, the Canadian company will have the right to grant sub-licenses to third parties to use the combined technologies for the development of biopharmaceutical products such as recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.
Chromos will pay Lonza a portion of its sub-licensing revenues as consideration for using its cell line. No further financial details have been disclosed.
