Viral vector development CDMO, Matica Biotechnology Inc, has signed a Letter of Intent to allow U.S.-based biotech, KaliVir Immunotherapeutics, to develop advanced cancer therapies using Matica Bio’s Vaccinia Enhanced Template (VET™) platform.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of KaliVir's oncolytic virus therapies by focusing on a new manufacturing process using Matica Bio’s proprietary MatiMax™ cell line for the process.

Laboratorios Farmacéuticos Rovi, the Spanish headquartered pharmaceutical manufacturer, CDMO and R&D company, has decided to retain its CDMO business after evaluating several non-binding offers and deciding that continuing with its current strategic plan will maximize value for its existing shareholders.

Rovi had previously explored the potential of a sale of its CDMO segment - which includes manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines for Moderna – but rejected all five offers from potential buyers.

Vernal Biosciences has appointed Jim Petrilla as CEO and Board Member, as the company focuses on strategic growth as an mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) manufacturing leader.

With over 25 years in biopharma and clinical research, Petrilla brings a wealth of operational excellence expertise in leadership roles at major biopharma firms such as Bristol-Myers Squibb and Becton Dickinson, where he spearheaded transformative projects, achieved substantial revenue growth, and led a global NDA filing.

Petrilla succeeds founder Christian Cobaugh, Ph.D., who will now focus on his role as Chief Scientific Officer within the company.

Dr Satyanarayana Chava, CEO of pharmaceutical company Laurus Labs', is predicting robust growth for his company in the latter half of 2024/25, primarily driven by CDMO and active API segments.

Already this year, the company has reported a 40% increase in CDMO revenue, attributing the growth to substantial investments in CDMO capabilities with planned deliveries set to boost revenues further in Q3 and Q4. However, Chava was clear to point out that the 16% dip in API revenue in Q2 - due to planned facility modifications - is back on track and aligned with upcoming contractual needs as it looks to expand its expertise in oncology and other specialized therapeutic areas.

Last month, hedge fund Starboard Value acquired a $1 bn stake in Pfizer, at the same time, sharply criticizing the company's management for recent underperformance and strategic missteps. According to Starboard, Pfizer has seen at least $20 bn in value evaporate since 2019.

This move is a textbook example of activist investing. Investors - individuals or institutions - buy a significant stake in a company to influence its management and strategy with the aim of boosting the company’s value and, ultimately, profit from their investment.

But why target Pfizer? And why now?

Korean cell therapy and biotech company, Matica Biotechnology, a subsidiary of CHA Biotech, has secured multiple CDMO contracts, including deals with Puerto Rico-based CytoImmune Therapeutics and Houston-based Mongoose Bio, to produce retrovirus and lentivirus vectors for cancer therapies, and develop natural killer (NK) and T-cell receptor therapies, respectively.

Matica Bio became the first Korean company to establish a customized CDMO facility in Texas in 2022, specializing in CGT commercialization, with the company having developed a proprietary cell line to enhance viral vector production efficiency.

CDMO, AGC Biologics, has announced job cuts for 95 employees and the decision to idle most of its operations at its CGT plant in Longmont, Colorado, as the company announces restructuring plans. The company cited shifts in the biopharmaceutical landscape. The CDMO will continue its ongoing investments and operations at other sites around the world.

Korean biopharma, Celltrion, has announced plans to establish a wholly owned CDMO subsidiary by the end of 2024, leveraging its expertise in antibody development to compete with existing CDMOs by emphasizing its expertise in high productivity and cost efficiency. Facility expansion and commercial activities are set for 2025.

Evonik has announced layoffs of around 260 employees - in addition to previously announced job cuts - as the company continues its ongoing multi-year reorganization to streamline operations and reduce costs in its specialty chemicals business to improve profitability and focus on higher-margin growth areas.

Several U.S. consumer groups and labor unions have asked the FTC to block Novo Holdings planned $16.5 bn acquisition of Catalent, amidst concerns that the potential deal could stifle competition in the market for GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs.

The groups argue that the acquisition would further solidify Novo Nordisk's leading position - dominated by Ozempic and Wegovy – and that this could potentially lead to higher prices and reduced access to these critical medications. They also contend that the deal could give Novo Nordisk control over Catalent's production facilities, and thus limit its rivals' ability to manufacture competing drugs. The move comes amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers - including the U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren - who has also raised concerns about the merger’s potential to reduce competition. Senator Warren has asked the FTC to closely investigate the deal.

Global CDMO, Recipharm, and integrated pharmaceutical specialists, Exela Pharma Sciences, have established a strategic alliance to enhance sterile manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. This partnership will leverage Exela’s FDA-approved facility with a focus on sterile injectables and complex biologics as both companies look to expand production capacity and offer comprehensive solutions for biopharmaceutical clients across U.S. and global markets.

Cell and gene therapy experts, Dark Horse Consulting, has acquired BioTechLogic, a leader in biopharmaceutical CMC and manufacturing consulting, to expand the company’s capabilities in cell and gene therapy, biologics, and vaccines. By combining expertise, Dark Horse aims to optimize development timelines and resources for CGT clients by enhancing technical operations and quality support.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) recently announced that Adare had relocated its global headquarters from New Jersey to Philadelphia, and has been supported by a $2.9 mn investment from the U.S. Governor Josh Shapiro Administration. Adare has committed a further $16.8 mn investment to expand its two Philadelphia manufacturing and packaging facilities. In all, at least 115 new jobs will be created and a further 200 existing Pennsylvania jobs retained. The DCED said that the move demonstrates both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia as a premier hub for life sciences.

PCI Pharma Services is investing $365 mn to expand its facilities in the EU and US to enhance its capacity for advanced drug delivery and drug-device combination products. Key upgrades include a new center of excellence in Rockford, Illinois, and two new facilities in Dublin, Ireland, dedicated to injectable and oral solid dose drug packaging and assembly. This investment aims to support the entire lifecycle of complex therapies, from clinical development to commercialization.

Scorpius BioManufacturing implements lean clinical manufacturing techniques as a cost-effective, phase-appropriate approach that focuses on performing only the necessary work at each clinical development stage, streamlining the path to early-phase trials and helping partners conserve internal resources. By delaying process optimization until a drug candidate shows clinical success, a company can reduce financial risk and minimize cash burn, and only optimize and advance its investigational new drug’s development process as it shows adequate progression through trials. 

BioDuro-Sundia, the California headquartered contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), has appointed Dr. Armin Spura as its new CEO. Dr. Spura brings over 20 years’ experience in life sciences, having led companies like Crown Bioscience and held senior roles including at Thermo Fisher and WuXi NEXTCODE. He aims to leverage BioDuro-Sundia’s integrated CRDMO platform, which spans from discovery to commercial manufacturing, to accelerate growth and deliver innovative solutions to clients globally.

In Regensburg, Germany, Aenova Group has significantly expanded its capabilities for the development and manufacturing of high-potent medicines. The investment aims to address the growing demand for highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs), which are used more frequently in treatments for cancers and autoimmune diseases. The upgraded facility will handle a broader range of manufacturing scales, ensuring high standards of quality and safety for high-potency drug production.

As 3,000 companies and 60,000 attendees finalize plans before heading to Milan for the 35th anniversary of CPHI, you might have started thinking about what’s on offer and who you are going to catch up with next week.

We spoke with executives from pharma and services companies to ask them what industry developments and trends interest them prior to this year’s event.

Oxford Biomedica has rebranded as OXB to reflect, it says, its transformation into a pure-play cell and gene therapy CDMO. The company says its brand reflects its commitment to technical excellence, innovation, and high-quality delivery at all stages of viral vector development, where it will offer expanded capabilities globally to support clients from early development through to commercial manufacturing.

Celltrion Inc., a South Korean biosimilar manufacturer, has announced its entry into the CDMO market. Founder and Chairman Seo Jung-jin shared the update during the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference, announcing the company’s plans to establish a wholly owned subsidiary focused on the CDMO market, adding that the company would explore options for new plant construction, either domestically or internationally.