Lonza and Bioqube Ventures to scale biologics and small molecules

01 Dec 2021 --- Lonza and Bioqube Ventures, a European venture capital firm with a dual investment model including venture creation, have partnered to develop and manufacture biologics and small molecules. This is a five-year services agreement in which Lonza will provide advice and services to Bioqube Ventures’ portfolio companies.

“The discussions with portfolio companies have been initiated, and we intend to create support along with Bioqube’s investment plans and the specific needs of the respective portfolio companies. We are not disclosing the company names at this time,” Pnina Weitz, global head of venture capital business development and relationship management at Lonza tells NutritionInsight.

“Bioqube is dedicated to advancing science in the European ecosystems to develop breakthrough therapies for patients,” says Debora Dumont, co-founder and managing partner, Bioqube Ventures.

This collaboration offers our portfolio companies the opportunity to leverage Lonza’s expertise and its global network, supporting our hands-on approach in building new and successful ventures, she continues.

Impact of the agreement
As a way of a definition, biologics can be composed of sugars, proteins, nucleic acids or complex combinations of these substances, or may be living cells or tissues.

Leveraged by the partnership, Lonza’s technology that decreases risks of developing and manufacturing molecules ranging from monoclonal antibodies, complex proteins, and small molecules to antibody-drug conjugates.Lonza will support Bioqube Ventures with investment de-risking and provide the development and manufacturing of drug substance and drug product services.

The company states that the holistic approach to drug substance, product development and manufacturing across various platforms simplifies the supply chain, reduces process complexity and allows for shortened development timelines.

“This framework agreement provides Bioqube Ventures and its portfolio companies a range of services for its late discovery and early development needs,” says Weitz.

“Our customized and scalable solutions demonstrate our commitment to enabling emerging biotechs to take their drug candidates to the clinic.”

Tracking Lonza’s previous moves
Previously, Lonza’s joint venture, Bacthera and Chr. Hansen began to supply live biotherapeutic products following Swiss and Danish manufacturing licenses. These products are suitable to address patients with “unmet medical needs.”

Additionally, Bacthera and Seres Therapeutics partnered to manufacture the “first” live biotherapeutic product, SER-109, Seres’ lead product candidate for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI).

In other developments, Lonza’s UC-II collagen was positioned to attract nutraceutical and pharmaceutical customers as it provides a holistic approach for joint health.

By Nicole Kerr