Bend Research Inc. Launches New Biotherapeutics Development Initiative
March 20, 2012
BEND, Ore.—Bend Research Inc., a leading independent drug-formulation development and manufacturing company, today announced an initiative to expand its scientific and engineering expertise into biotherapeutics, including offering new technologies and equipment proven to improve biotherapeutic and vaccine production.
In the new initiative, Bend Research will partner with clients to develop and optimize pharmaceutical engineering processes and technologies by coupling fundamental cellular processes with the optimal cell environment for each phase of production.
"The campaign is grounded in science and engineering fundamentals, with a focus on applying macro engineering approaches to leverage an understanding of complex cell-biology," said Dr. Lisa Graham, Senior Vice President at Bend Research. "We've validated this approach in our small-molecules business and we're now uniquely positioned to bring this valuable experience to the broader biotherapeutics market."
Bend Research has made a wide range of bioprocessing services and capabilities available to help clients advance biotherapeutic products and processes, capitalizing on the company's extensive experience in process development, analytical sciences, and formulation science. This includes comprehensive development methodologies, individual tools and models, upstream and downstream bioprocessing solutions, computational modeling at multiple scales, and prototype engineering.
The initiative is the outgrowth of Bend Research's more than 35 years of experience in the development of small-molecule pharmaceutical delivery systems, formulations, and processes. It builds upon an exclusive relationship of nearly seven years, in which Bend Research worked with Pfizer to develop new tools and models to advance candidates in the Pfizer biotherapeutics pipeline. Through those projects, innovative tools were developed that streamline production within existing plants and provide other cost-savings opportunities during the design of new plants.
As part of Bend Research's long-term collaboration with Pfizer, both companies worked on a joint campaign to design the "Plant of the Future." The effort was aimed at reducing the capital investment required for new biotherapeutics production facilities by half and reducing conventional plant operating costs by two‑thirds. Significant progress and innovations were jointly made toward those goals.
According to John Ludwig, Vice President in BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences for Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, "Pfizer's partnership with Bend Research has focused on developing innovative new technologies in bioprocessing and integrated process analytics. We are pleased these technologies are supporting advancement of our biotherapeutics and vaccines portfolio."
For more information about the biotherapeutics initiative or Bend Research, please contact Phoenix Ivers via email at [email protected], by phone at 541-382-4100 or 800-706-8655 or visit the Bend Research website at www.bendresearch.com.
About Bend Research Inc.
For more than 35 years, Bend Research has worked with clients to create value by advancing new medicines that improve human health and to solve their most difficult scientific and technical problems. This success is based on the company's ability to develop, advance, and commercialize pharmaceutical technologies, which grow from a solid base of scientific and engineering fundamental understanding.
Bend Research provides formulation and dosage-form support, assists in process development and optimization, manufactures clinical-trial quantities of drug candidates in its cGMP facilities, and advances promising drug candidates from conception through commercialization.
Bend Research is a leader in biotherapeutics technologies; novel formulations, including solubilization technologies such as spray-dried dispersions and hot-melt extrusion formulations; and controlled-release, inhalation, and nanoparticle technologies. The company has more than 250 employees based in four state-of-the-art facilities in Be