Celliance Enters Agreement with Novozymes A/S to Develop Animal-Free Recombinant Human Albumin
July 06 2006 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ:SERO), announced today that
Celliance Corporation, its wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered
into an exclusive agreement with Novozymes A/S to explore the
commercialization of Recombinant Human Albumin for use in cell
culture media formulations. The agreement commits both companies to
an exclusive, long-term supply agreement if specified feasibility
mileposts are achieved. "Drug safety is a key priority for our
customers and the introduction of recombinant albumin is an
important step forward in our effort to create animal-free products
that increase the quality and safety of biopharmaceutical
production," said Dave Bellitt, President of Celliance. "Our
agreement with Novozymes A/S will enable us to introduce this
recombinant alternative for our customers." Under its Probumin(TM)
brand, Celliance is the world leader in the manufacture and supply
of bovine serum albumin (BSA) for numerous applications within the
healthcare industry. Its animal-free product Incelligent(TM) is the
leading recombinant human insulin product for cell culture
applications to the biotech industry. "In addition to functioning
as a transporter of essential nutrients for cell growth, albumin
helps reduce cytotoxicity, damage from reactive species (e.g. free
radicals) and shear stress on cells within the bioreactor. These
characteristics help to support cell viability and mitigate a
common form of cell death called apoptosis. No other single cell
culture supplement has the ability to deliver this broad spectrum
of benefits within a bioproduction setting," added Bellitt.
r-Probumin(TM)AF will be manufactured by Novozymes using its
patented Aspergillus fermentation platform. Aspergillus is a GRAS
organism (Generally Regarded as Safe) and has been used by
Novozymes for protein production for more than 20 years. No human
or animal-origin ingredients are used at any stage of recombinant
albumin production including the development and maintenance of the
master cell bank. Multiple lots of experimental samples will be
available for customer evaluation and qualification during the
third quarter this year. Per Falholt, Executive Vice President and
CSO of Novozymes A/S commented: "Recombinant human albumin from
Aspergillus is an exciting new project. We are pleased that we have
been able to develop a process for production of this important
protein based on our proven Aspergillus production platform, and we
are excitedly awaiting the final results from the customer
evaluation program, where after we will undertake up-scaling of the
production process." "Celliance is a leading supplier of cell
culture supplements and the agreement supports Novozymes'
initiatives outside our main focus on enzymes and microorganisms,"
commented Henrik Dalboge, Senior Director Biotech Business
development at Novozymes. "rHSA will in addition strengthen
Novozymes' platform of ingredients to the biopharmaceutical
industry." Celliance Corporation, a Serologicals Company, offers an
expanding array of bioprocessing products and technology including
diagnostic products and cell culture media supplements. Key
products include: EX-CYTE(R), the largest selling, cell-growth
supplement; Probumin(TM), a proprietary line of bovine albumin,
Incelligent(TM), the Company's recombinant human insulin, and
patented UCOE(TM) technology for maximizing protein expression in
mammalian cells. It is also the world's leading provider of
monoclonal antibodies for the blood typing industry. For more
information regarding Celliance Corporation, please visit
www.celliancecorp.com. Novozymes is the biotech-based world leader
in enzymes and microorganisms. Using nature's own technologies,
Novozymes continuously expand the frontiers of biological solutions
to improve industrial performance everywhere. Headquartered in
Denmark, Novozymes employs more than 4,100 people in 30 countries.
Novozymes produces and sells more than 600 products in 130
countries. Novozymes A/S' B shares are listed on the Copenhagen
Stock Exchange. For further company information, visit Novozymes at
www.novozymes.com. Serologicals Corporation, headquartered in
Atlanta, Georgia, is a global provider of biological products and
enabling technologies, which are essential for the research,
development and manufacturing of biologically based life science
products. The Company's products and technologies are used in a
wide variety of innovative applications within the areas of
oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiology and infectious
diseases, as well as in the study of molecular biology.
Serologicals has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide, and its
shares are traded on the NASDAQ national stock market under the
symbol SERO. On April 25, 2006, Serologicals entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger with Millipore Corporation and one of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, pursuant to which Millipore
Corporation will acquire Serologicals. For more information
regarding Serologicals Corporation, please visit
www.serologicals.com.
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