Ajinomoto Althea expands biological drug product manufacturing operations

Ajinomoto Althea, Inc. ("Althea"), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services, recently announced it is expanding its existing biological drug product manufacturing operations to include highly active materials such as Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). The new facility is located in close proximity to existing Althea operations in San Diego, CA. Today Althea announced the first phase of its ADC and cytotoxic service offerings. Process and Analytical Development laboratories will be available for client programs in January 2016. These laboratories provide clients with services that support their early stage ADC product development efforts. The Process Development labs are equipped to perform services such as bioconjugation, process development and optimization, ultrafiltration and diafiltration process development, as well as ADC material generation utilizing low Occupation Exposure Limit (OEL) payloads for pre-clinical studies. The Analytical Development labs will support process development services such as cleaning verification, raw material identification testing, ADC characterization assays, as well as necessary safety and potency assays.

Jason Brady, Ph.D., Sr. Director and Business Head, ADCs, states, "We are very excited to announce the implementation of this key first step of our ADC service offerings. Althea is very pleased with our progress towards offering ADC developers a simplified supply chain, including bioconjugation, fill and finish, and process and analytical development, all within a single US-based location."

In addition to the development labs, Althea's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will include areas dedicated to bioconjugation, formulation, purification, quality control, and aseptic fill finish including lyophilization. This 57,000 square foot facility will enable Althea to offer clients a simplified manufacturing supply chain service from a single United States based location. The facility has been designed for safe handling and manipulation of very low OEL compounds while maintaining aseptic conditions and GMP compliance. Client projects from early clinical phase through commercial launch and supply will be accommodated at this new facility.