TaiMed, WuXi enter ibalizumab manufacturing agreement

WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX) today announced that it has a contract manufacturing agreement with TaiMed Biologics Inc. for the manufacture of ibalizumab (TMB-355) in support of Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials globally.  Ibalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody and a member of an emerging class of HIV therapies known as viral-entry inhibitors.  This work will be completed at WuXi's biologics manufacturing facilities in China and its biologics testing facilities in the United States.

"We are pleased that TaiMed Biologics has selected WuXi to manufacture ibalizumab for its global clinical trials because of WuXi's strong technical capabilities and high quality standards," said Edward Hu, Chief Operating Officer of WuXi PharmaTech.  "WuXi's integrated biological drug discovery, development, manufacturing and testing service platform provides our customers with a seamless solution to bring their biologics products to the market globally and in China."

"TaiMed looks forward to working with WuXi to produce clinical-trial supplies of this important new medicine for patients," said James Chang, Chief Executive Officer of TaiMed Biologics. "We are delighted to have such a skilled and reputable partner in WuXi for late-stage manufacturing as we further develop the subcutaneous formulation of our lead product, ibalizumab."