Viropro subsidiary BPD expands lab services
The company, which specialises in providing contract laboratory services for the biotech and biopharma industries, claims the expansion will allow it to better serve the needs of existing clients who demand larger processing volumes, whilst potentially attracting new business.
In addition, the company has announced various changes at boardroom level, including the appointment of former BioProcess Technology Consultants (BTC) founder, Howard Levine and former vice president of EU and US pharmaceutical development at Japanese firm, Santen, Pete Fernandes.
Fernandes was previously involved in both the technical and strategic management of early and late-stage drug development of recombinant-derived biologicals and small molecules.
Meanwhile, prior to founding BTC, Levine held positions in process development at both Genentech and Amgen.
Share deal
Virorpro acquired BPD in 2010 after brokering a deal which saw BPD’s Indian owners, Intas, receive 90 million shares in return. The companies planned to integrate their activities in the area of biotech contract research and manufacturing services (CRAM).
Speaking at the time of the deal, Virorpro president Serge Beausoleil, said: “Both Viropro and Intas share a common goal of creating a global biotech CRAMS footprint that utilises the strengths of each of its constituent companies and partners towards providing a seamless clone-to-clinic offering.”
Business plan
News of BPD’s lab expansion comes soon after parent company Viropro released an update of its long term business plan, claiming its mission is to “become the premier provider of outsourced research, development and manufacturing services for the biopharmaceutical industry.”
The company said the market for biopharmaceutical drugs stood at an estimated $75bn (€53bn), with the rapidly developing Japanese and European markets set to exceed $2bn (€1.4bn) by 2015, driven primarily by an aging population.
