ALSA Ventures, a London based European biotech investment firm, and Lonza, a global development and manufacturing partner to the pharma, biotech and nutrition industries, has announced a framework collaboration agreement to help ALSA’s portfolio of pre-clinical and early clinical biotechs develop and manufacture biologics and small molecule drug candidates.

 

The five-year agreement is to provide accelerated timelines for biologics and small molecules manufacturing, including highly-potent active ingredients, bioconjugates and new molecular formats.

 

The biopharmaceutical industry is experiencing a global shift towards new molecular formats and more complex molecules, including bi- and multispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, and various types of bioconjugates. In addition, small molecules continue to play a vital role in innovative treatments. 

 

As these therapies gain complexity in their applications and properties, unique challenges related to their bioavailability and handling arise. Developing and manufacturing these increasingly complex modalities requires sophisticated facility design and expertise, which is often challenging to establish in-house.

 

The new framework collaboration will support due diligence into ALSA’s potential investments, which will assist with their investment de-risking. It will also provide a unique opportunity for ALSA Ventures’ portfolio companies to leverage Lonza’s experience in supporting accelerated development and manufacturing projects, global network and regulatory competence. Lonza’s tailored offering includes early de-risking, development and manufacturing, and optimization services for large molecule biologics, bioconjugates and complex proteins, as well as small molecules. 

 

Pnina Weitz, Global Head of Venture Capital Business Development and Relationship Management, Lonza said, "Our framework agreement with ALSA Ventures will provide support for ALSA’s portfolio companies during the development and manufacturing of their innovative therapies based on a wide range of biologics and small molecules formats. The collaboration aims to significantly increase the chances for the future success of these therapies by providing early de-risking and development and manufacturing services tailored to each molecule’s unique needs and properties.”

 

Alek Safarian, CEO, ALSA Ventures said, "This framework agreement is a vital piece of the support ecosystem ALSA is developing to assist portfolio companies. Lonza’s comprehensive approach to development and manufacturing new treatments across multiple platforms will allow our early-stage portfolio companies to access the best support and expertise available from the earliest stages of development."