Here you go Mr. M, some good news for CHRX. This probably isn't all that much but should they continue to cut arrangements with promising biotechs, the potential will grow. Goes along the lines of being a value added supplier.
Monday February 3 11:05 AM EDT
ChiRex Signs Agreement With Cell Therapeutics To
Manufacture Bulk Lisofylline
ChiRex Plans to Improve Process Efficiency Using its Proprietary Chiral
Manufacturing Technology
WELLESLEY, Mass. and DUDLEY, England, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Chirex Inc announced
today that it has executed a Supply Agreement under which ChiRex will exclusively manufacture and
supply bulk lisofylline for clinical development and commercial product to Cell Therapeutics Inc.
(cti). Lisofylline is being developed to prevent or reduce treatment-related toxicities, specifically
infection, mucositis and treatment-related mortality among cancer patients undergoing high dose
radiation and/or chemotherapy.
"This agreement reflects ChiRex's strategy of shifting our portfolio of manufactured products towards
the most innovative, high value-added compounds emerging from the biopharmaceutical and
pharmaceutical industries," said Alan Clark, ChiRex's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We
believe that our expertise and proprietary technology are critical components in the development and
manufacture of the next generation of novel compounds, such as lisofylline."
Under the first phase of the Supply Agreement between cti and ChiRex, ChiRex will manufacture
cti's requirements for bulk drug substance until the end of 2001. Lisofylline will initially be
manufactured using process technology developed by cti. As part of the Agreement, ChiRex will
also work to apply its proprietary chiral manufacturing processes to improve the yield and purity of
cti's compound. These technologies could include the application of a process invented by Professor
Eric Jacobsen of Harvard University to synthesize a key chiral intermediate used in the manufacture
of lisofylline.
"This agreement is an excellent example of how our proprietary technology can benefit innovative
biopharmaceutical companies such as cti," said Dr. J. Graham Thorpe, Vice President of
Commercial Development at ChiRex. "We believe application of our technology to the synthesis of
lisofylline will significantly improve the process economics."
ChiRex serves the outsourcing needs of the pharmaceutical industry by specializing in the
development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical fine chemicals. ChiRex currently
produces 36 pharmaceutical products at commercial scale and manages an extensive development
portfolio of pharmaceutical products in its world-class, FDA-inspected cGMP manufacturing
facilities located in Dudley, England. ChiRex employs over 500 people and holds 54 patents and
patent applications in the field of chiral chemistry. SOURCE ChiRex Inc. |
