Avid wins commercial manufacturing project from Roivant

21-Feb-2018 - Last updated on 21-Feb-2018 at 17:14 GMT

(Image: iStock/BrianAJackson)

Avid Bioservices has been selected to manufacture a commercial drug substance for Enzyvant, a subsidiary of Roivant Sciences, which is developing a therapy to treat Farber disease.

As part of the deal, announced today, Avid will manufacture Enzyvant’s RVT-801, a recombinant human acid ceramidase (rhAC) enzyme replacement therapy that the company is developing as a potential treatment for Farber disease.

Enzyvant is currently conducting preclinical studies and has been granted orphan drug designation for RVT-801 in the US and EU.

According to the companies, technology transfer and clinical manufacturing have been ongoing since mid-2017. Avid will complete process characterization and optimization and will manufacture RVT-801 at its 42,000-square-foot biomanufacturing facility in Myford, CA.

Roger Lias, Avid CEO, told us earlier this week that “a number of new contractual commitments” were to be expected after the company announced its completed transition to a dedicated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).

Also this week, Avid announced the closing of a $20m follow-on offering. The funds will be used to expand its contract manufacturing business.