Sanofi and Transgene enter construction phase of viral vector plant in Lyon
Sanofi will act as CMO for Transgene
Sanofi and French biopharmaceutical firm Transgene have entered the construction phase of their new €10m manufacturing plant, which will be dedicated to the production of viral vectors, including Transgene's MUC1 targeted cancer immunotherapy, TG4010.
In March 2013, the two companies announced a long-term collaboration agreement to build the plant. It will be constructed on Genzyme Polyclonals' site in Lyon.
Sanofi will act as Transgene's Contract Manufacturing Organisation (CMO) and Transgene will be considered a preferred customer up to 2028.
This dedicated platform will be Sanofi's exclusive property.
Philippe Luscan, Executive VP Industrial affairs Sanofi, said the state-of-the art industrial platform would be dedicated to 'the production of viral vectors through a broad range of technologies including mammalian cell culture up to 1m3 using single-use bioreactors'.
Philippe Archinard, Chairman and Chief Executive of Transgene, added: 'We are very pleased to be moving forward with the construction phase of this important new commercial production unit. Our decision to invest now reflects the increasing confidence in our programmes, including our cancer immunotherapy candidate, TG4010, for which we recently announced topline preliminary data from a clinical study in non-small cell lung cancer.
'We are building a strong future for Transgene and are taking the steps needed to ensure sufficient future commercial supply.'