Merck Millipore and Turgut Ilaç to provide end-to-end solution for biosimilar production
Comprehensive set of products and services will accelerate progress of molecules into the clinic and onto commercialisation
Merck Millipore, the life science business of Merck, has entered into a strategic alliance with Turgut Ilaç, a leading biosimilar company based in Turkey, and will provide their Provantage end-to-end services to develop and manufacture biologics.
Provantage is a comprehensive suite of products and services that enables biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate the progress of molecules into the clinic and onto commercialisation. The turnkey package includes process development, cGMP manufacturing, facility design, pilot-plant production equipment, training, technology transfer, equipment qualification and setup.
Under this multi-year agreement, Merck Millipore will provide process development, equipment for a pilot facility, cGMP manufacturing, facility design and, ultimately, technology transfer of the manufacturing process to Turgut's facility for commercial production.
Phase one of the agreement will focus on monoclonal antibody biosimilars for non-small cell lung carcinomas and rheumatoid arthritis, the first molecules in Turgut's biosimilar pipeline that will be supported by Merck Millipore under this strategic relationship. Financial terms were not disclosed.
‘Biosimilars represent an important new therapeutic option and many biopharmaceutical companies around the world are investing in their development and manufacture,’ said Udit Batra, President and CEO, Merck Millipore. ‘We are excited to work with Turgut Ilaç, leveraging our end-to-end offering to help create and optimise processes and manufacturing facilities for these molecules. We look forward to helping them extend their legacy into the field of biologics and enable them to continue providing important benefits to patients in Turkey and surrounding markets.’
‘Turgut Ilaç was one of the founding companies of the pharmaceutical sector in Turkey and one of the first to develop generics,’ said Kaya Turgut, founder and Chairman of the Board. ‘Our business model has now evolved to focus on the development and manufacture of industry leading biosimilars. To support this initiative, we sought a provider with strong scientific knowledge and expertise that could provide turnkey support, encompassing everything from process development to commercial production. With this relationship, we gain access to expertise and capabilities that will not only allow us to establish robust processes, but make the transfer of those processes from pilot scale to commercial facilities much easier and faster.’
