Lonza and Junshi Biosciences Collaborate to Accelerate the Development and Manufacturing of Biologics

“The signing of this collaboration indicates that the relationship between the two parties has been taken to a new level. As a major milestone for Lonza’s biopharmaceutical facility in Guangzhou, the collaboration also demonstrates Lonza’s vision to provide high-quality and reliable services for local pharmaceutical companies under the CDMO model. We look forward to providing comprehensive services and professional support for Junshi Biosciences, helping to accelerate the process of drug development, production and commercialization.”

Quote from Dr. Hui Feng, Chief Operating Officer of Junshi Biosciences:

“We are excited to expand our collaboration with Lonza and believe that, by leveraging our rich global experience and strong local expertise, we will be well placed to achieve the best results. In the future, we believe that supported by Lonza’s advanced technologies and excellent international service, Junshi Biosciences will be able to provide patients with treatment options that work better and cost less in China and around the world, providing an opportunity for patients globally to benefit from China’s innovation capabilities.”

Shanghai, China, 13 April 2021 – Lonza, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), and Junshi Biosciences, an innovative Chinese pharmaceutical company, today announced that the companies have expanded their collaboration for the development and manufacturing of biologics. Lonza will leverage its global network and local operation capabilities to help Junshi Biosciences accelerate the development of drugs in its pipeline and promote their adoption across global markets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza will provide comprehensive support, including cell line construction and development, the supply of cell culture media and reagents, process development, and GMP manufacturing. The collaboration will also extend to development and manufacturing support for Junshi Biosciences’ current and future antibody-based product pipeline. The pipeline includes a new antibody candidate that will be manufactured at Lonza’s first mammalian facility in Guangzhou (CN) that has been fully operational since Q1 2021.

The main production platform will utilize Lonza’s GS Xceed® Expression System, which is highly recognized in the industry and covers various techniques and commercialized processes such as host cells, expression vectors and optimized culture media. In addition, Lonza will leverage its manufacturing network for biological products spanning three continents as well as its globally unified quality control standards to help Junshi Biosciences accelerate its venture into international markets and help bring innovation from China to the world.

With the help of Lonza’s GS Xceed® Expression System, Junshi Biosciences already successfully launched China’s first local antibody targeting PD-1 (Toripalimab Injection, TUOYI®) in 2018 and took its neutralizing antibody drug JS016 (etesevimab) for COVID-19 to clinical trial stage in 2020.