Xcellerex wins new customers for manufacturing techs

05-Jun-2011 - Last updated on 06-Jun-2011 at 12:17 GMT

Biomanufacturing technology firm Xcellerex has had a good start to June with R-Pharm and Fujifilm Diosynth signing up as customers.

First up: Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer R-Pharma. The firm has invested in a 2,000L version of Xcellerex’ FlexFactory bioproduction technology for its recently established facility in Yarolavl.

The plant marks R-Pharma’s entry into large-scale biologics and biosimilars manufacturing and, according to company chairman Alexey Repik, the Xcellerex platform will be a key part of the business.

“The FlexFactory and the expertise that Xcellerex are providing will significantly accelerate our development and commercial timelines,” he explained, adding that production is set to begin in 2012.”

Xcellerex CEO Guy Broadbent was equally upbeat about the deal, suggesting that: “The agreement is an important first step in our strategy to play a key enabling role in the coming wave of Russian investment in biomanufacturing capacity.”

Clearly Xcellerex will be keen that the project is successful both in its own terms and as a vehicle for attracting other manufacturers in Russia, particularly given Government plans to increase the amount of drugs made in the country.

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

Xcellerex’ second deal of the month so far is with Anglo-US contract manufacturing firm Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.

The company, a unit of Japan’s Fujifilm, has bought a 1,000 litre version of Xcellerex’ signle-use bioreactor technology for its production facility in Research-Triangle-Park, North Carolina.

This addition complements the 200L Xcellerex single-use bioreactor already in operation at the company’s Process Development Laboratories in Cary, NC, and the existing 2,000L stainless steel train located in the RTP, NC cGMP manufacturing plant.

Stephen Spearman, President of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies stressed the utility of single-use technologies for a CMO.

“Single use technologies are uniquely suited for multi-product contract manufacturing with the added advantage that the operations are easily transferable between sites and are easily expandable for increased supply needs.”