Dowpharma licenses Pfenex Expression Technology to Biovel

Dowpharma contract manufacturing services has licensed its Pfenex Expression Technology to Biovel Life Sciences Private. The licensing agreement grants India-based Biovel rights to employ the Pseudomonas-based technology for the production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), a biosimilar product.

Dowpharma has already developed a high-yield production strain and process for the production of HGH and will prepare and transfer to Biovel a Research Cell Bank and the production process. The agreement provides for an upfront Technology Access Fee, maintenance and milestone fees, as well as royalties on product sales; further financial details were not disclosed.

Pfenex Expression Technology is based on specially modified strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria and by improving quality and boosting yields of difficult-to-express proteins, the technology accelerates speed to market for vaccines and biotherapeutics, and reduces costs.

"Using the Pfenex Expression Technology platform, we were able to develop a very cost effective process for commercial-scale production of Human Growth Hormone," said Nick Hyde, global business director, Dowpharma. "Accelerating speed to market and reducing costs associated with drug development is a top priority for Dowpharma, and this agreement underscores our ability to deliver on that commitment."