FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX)
today announced that it has entered into a manufacturing supply agreement with
Lonza Biologics (Lonza) wherein Lonza will make available exclusively to
Abgenix, for a period of five years, a cell culture production suite within
its facility in Slough, England. The production suite will be used for the
manufacture of antibody products in development by Abgenix and its licensees.
"We are extremely pleased to secure access to Lonza's world-class
facilities and expertise in the production of antibodies," said
R. Scott Greer, chairman and chief executive officer of Abgenix. "We can now
supply our projected need for clinical trial materials in spite of
intensifying competition for antibody production capacity."
With this agreement, Abgenix gains access to production capacity and
scheduling flexibility similar to owning the facility, while Lonza retains
responsibility for staffing and operating the facility. The term of the
agreement is for five years with an option to extend the agreement. The
dedicated cell culture production suite with associated purification capacity
is undergoing refurbishment and will be operational in the third quarter of
2001.
As previously disclosed, Abgenix is building a large multi-product
manufacturing facility in Fremont, CA. This facility is expected to be
operational by year-end 2002. Between the dedicated production suite at Lonza
and the future capacity in Fremont, Abgenix expects to be able to meet its own
and many of its collaborative partners' needs for clinical material.
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of fully human monoclonal antibody therapies for a variety
of diseases. The company's antibody technology platform, which includes
XenoMouse(TM) technology, enables the rapid generation of high affinity, fully
human antibody product candidates to essentially any disease target
appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix leverages its leadership position
in human antibody technology by building a large and diversified product
portfolio through the establishment of licensing arrangements with multiple
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and genomics companies and through the
development of its own internal proprietary products. For more information on
Abgenix, visit the company's website at http://www.abgenix.com.
Lonza Biologics is part of Lonza Group and is the world's leader in
contract development and production of therapeutic antibodies and proteins.
The company undertakes highly specialized services for the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries based on its nearly 20 years of experience in
mammalian cell culture and on proprietary technology for the large-scale
manufacturing of innovative pharmaceutical products. With headquarters in the
United Kingdom, Lonza Biologics operates cGMP multi-product manufacturing
facilities in Slough, United Kingdom and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For more
information on Lonza Biologics, visit the company's website at
http://www.lonzagroup.com.
Statements made in this press release about Abgenix's XenoMouse
technology, product development activities and collaborative arrangements
other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements and
are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the statements made, including risks associated with
the success of clinical trials, the progress of research and product
development programs, the regulatory approval process, competitive products,
future capital requirements and the extent and breadth of Abgenix's patent
portfolio. Please see Abgenix's public filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for information about risks that may affect Abgenix.
SOURCE Abgenix, Inc.
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http://www.abgenix.com
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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/126548.html or fax,
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CONTACT:
Ina Cu, Manager, Investor/Public Relations of
Abgenix, Inc., 510-608-4662
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