CMO deals roundup – Jubilant, Boehringer, and Scynexis

Outsourcing-Pharma presents a round of new contract manufacturing deals, including business wins for Boehringer, Jubilant and Scynexis.

Boehringer Ingelheim is providing manufacturing services to support Xencor as it moves its biobetter monoclonal antibodies (mAb) through preclinical and into Phase I. If the mAbs advance beyond this phase Boehringer has ‘certain manufacturing rights’ for clinical and commercial supply to Xencor.

[The deal] reflects one of our new business models in the contract manufacturing in which both parties are enabled to focus on their core competencies”, Simon Sturge, corporate senior vice president at Boehringer, said.

Xencor has developed the mAbs using its Xtend technology to increase the half-life of the antibody. It will handle preclinical and clinical development of the mAbs and keep all commercial rights. Xencor expects to enter Phase I with its lead compound, an anti-TNF antibody, next year.

Jubilant HollisterStier has inked deals to manufacture sterile parenterals products at commercial-scale for four innovator companies. The deals are worth more than $90m (€68m) and span a five-year period.

Shyam Bhartia, managing director of Jubilant Life Sciences, said: “[The deals are] a direct result of our increased business development efforts leading to higher utilisation of our existing capacity.” Jubilant will manufacture the products at its Washington, US facility for distribution in the US and Europe.

Scynexis is supporting Morria Biopharmaceuticals with chemical development and manufacturing of an allergic rhinitis treatment. Morria has performed Phase II trials of the treatment, MRX-4, and has now contracted Scynexis to help with CMC (chemistry, manufacturing, and control) activities.

We have been consistently impressed with Scynexis’ team and facilities. The level of expertise, dedication, regulatory compliance and creativity shown has been truly outstanding”, Joseph Bondi, vice president of preclinical development at Morria, said.