Millipore Corporation and Novozymes Form Strategic Alliance to Supply Animal-Free Cell Culture Supplements for Bioprocessing
Alliance Will Accelerate Launch of New Animal-Free Supplements and Provide Customers with a Secure Source of High Performance Cell Culture Products
BILLERICA, Mass. & BAGSVAERD, Denmark--Millipore Corporation (NYSE:MIL) and Novozymes (CSE: NZYMB) today announced an agreement to develop, market, and sell new, animal-free cell culture supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
The new products, to be marketed under the brand name CellPrimeTM, will be manufactured by Novozymes and sold through Millipore’s sales organization. The alliance expands the existing relationship between Millipore and Novozymes and will initially focus on developing recombinant human albumin and recombinant human transferrin.
Cell culture supplements help mammalian cells produce the proteins that form the basis of biologic drugs. Today, customers seeking to utilize defined, animal-free supplements in their biopharmaceutical production processes have limited options. The CellPrimeTM products are designed to reduce risk and ease regulatory concerns for biopharmaceutical manufacturers. Additionally, these products will help to improve the consistency and productivity of customers’ industrial cell culture processes.
“Our expanded relationship with Novozymes broadens our commitment to develop a portfolio of high quality, animal-free alternatives that optimize productivity, address drug safety, and ease regulatory approval,†said Andrew Bulpin, Ph.D., Vice President of Millipore’s Upstream Bioprocessing Business Unit. “Our CellPrimeTM products will give customers a reliable, long-term supply of regulatory compliant supplements and address their desire to eliminate the use of animal-derived products in their manufacturing processes.â€
“We are excited about expanding our relationship with Millipore given the company’s leading position in serving the biopharmaceutical manufacturing market,†said Peter Rosholm, Vice President of Novozymes Biopharma. “By leveraging the strengths of both companies, we will accelerate the introduction and adoption of innovative new products and enable our customers’ to re-think their production processes. This collaboration further strengthens our position as a strategic partner for biopharmaceutical companies and broadens Novozymes’ biopharmaceutical product portfolio.â€
The process of manufacturing biologic drugs such as monoclonal antibodies begins with growing mammalian cells in a bioreactor. These cells are cultured in media and require the addition of supplements to enable efficient production of therapeutic proteins that form the basis of biologic drugs.
In cell culture processes, recombinant albumin serves as a carrier of essential nutrients for cell growth and supports cell viability within the bioreactor. Recombinant transferrin is highly efficient at delivering iron, an essential element for cell growth. Recombinant human albumin and transferrin will be manufactured using Novozymes’ patented microbial platforms. No human or animal-origin ingredients have been used at any stage in their development or production, including establishment of the master cell banks. For samples of these products, please contact Millipore at: 1-800-MILLIPORE (1-800-645-5476) or visit www.millipore.com.
Millipore is a leading provider of cell culture supplements which are used in the production of numerous FDA-approved biologic drugs that are marketed worldwide. Novozymes Biopharma develops scientifically proven biotech products that are used in the production of several FDA approved biologic drugs and that enable the pharmaceutical industry to rethink its products and processes.
About Millipore
Millipore (NYSE: MIL) is a Life Science leader providing cutting-edge technologies, tools, and services for bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. As a strategic partner, we collaborate with customers to confront the world’s challenging human health issues. From research to development to production, our scientific expertise and innovative solutions help customers tackle their most complex problems and achieve their goals. Millipore Corporation is an S&P 500 company with more than 6,100 employees in 47 countries worldwide.
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About Novozymes – Rethinking Tomorrow
Novozymes is the world leader in bio-innovation. Together with customers across a broad array of industries, we create tomorrow’s industrial biosolutions, improving our customers' business and the use of our planet's resources. With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes’ bio-innovations improve industrial performance and safeguard the world’s resources by offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s ever-changing marketplace. Novozymes’ natural solutions enhance and promote everything from removing trans-fats in food, to advancing biofuels to power the world tomorrow. Our never-ending exploration of nature’s potential is evidenced by over 5,000 granted and pending patents, showing what is possible when nature and technology join forces. Our 4,600+ employees working in research, production and sales around the world are committed to shaping business today and our world tomorrow.
Novozymes is quoted on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange (NZYMB). Read more at www.novozymes.com.
Millipore Forward Looking Statement
The matters discussed herein, as well as in future oral and written statements by management of Millipore Corporation that are forward-looking statements, are based on current management expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
Potential risks and uncertainties that could affect Millipore's future operating results with respect to the foregoing include, without limitation, failure to develop products acceptable to the cell culture market, failure to achieve design wins into our pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers' manufacturing design phase for a particular drug; delay, suspension or termination of a customer's volume production; lack of availability of raw materials or component products on a timely basis; regulatory delay in the approval of new therapeutics; limitations on cash flow for operations and investment due to increased debt service obligations; the inability to establish and maintain necessary product and process quality levels; the inability to realize the expected benefits of the Novozymes development, marketing and licensing alliance; competitive factors such as alternative cell culture supplements; the inability to utilize technology in current or planned products due to overriding rights by third parties; conditions in the economy in general and in the bioscience and bioprocess markets in particular; foreign exchange fluctuations; reduced private and government research funding; and exposure to product liability claims. Please refer to our filings with the SEC, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, for more information on these and other risks that could cause actual results to differ.
Novozymes Forward Looking Statement
This news release and its related comments contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are by their very nature associated with risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The uncertainties may include such things as unexpected developments in research projects and an unsuccessful collaboration for any reason. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Novozymes, its financial or operating results or its securities.