Lonza chooses Synpromics’ novel inducible promoter platform to manufacture biopharmaceuticals

EDINBURGH, Scotland–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PromPT?src=hash" target="_blank"gt;#PromPTlt;/agt;–Synpromics
Ltd, the leader in gene control, and Lonza
Pharma & Biotech announce a partnership for the
commercialisation of a number of inducible promoters to improve the
manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. The commercial agreement with Lonza
follows the award of an Innovate
UK grant to Synpromics announced on 23 April 2018. Lonza and
Synpromics worked together to develop and test these innovative
promoters in Lonza’s industry-leading GS Xceed^® Expression
System.

The inducible promoters will be used by Lonza to enable efficient
production of several types of biological drug and is part of the
company’s strategy to develop manufacturing solutions for a new
generation of complex protein formats. Inducible promoters enable gene
expression to be turned on or off in response to signals in the cell
environment, enabling fine-tuning of bioproduction. The new promoters
will allow Lonza to expand its offering and provide a superior service
to its clients.

David Venables, CEO of Synpromics, commented; “We’re delighted with the
outcome of the first phase of this project supported by Innovate UK. We
have exceeded all our objectives and are pleased to be able to enter a
commercial partnership with Lonza so that these new promoters can be
brought rapidly to market”.

Sarah Holland, Global Head of Licensing, Lonza Pharma & Biotech added;
“As the formats of innovative therapeutic proteins become more complex
and harder to express, we are looking for new solutions to improve
productivity. Building on our successful collaboration with Synpromics,
we aim to fully harness the potential of these inducible promoters for
next-generation biomanufacturing”.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About Synpromics

Synpromics is
the leader in gene control, improving human health by enabling safer,
more effective cell and gene medicines through proprietary genomics,
bioinformatics and intelligent data-driven design. The Company has
developed PromPT^®, its multi-dimensional bioinformatics
database, that enables product-specific promoter design and selection
empowering the next generation of cell and gene based medicines and
bioprocessing applications. The Company operates in a diverse range of
fields, including broad applications in cell and gene-based
medicine, biologics manufacturing and viral vector bioprocessing.
Current partners include Audentes, Biomarin, uniQure, AGTC, Solid
Biosciences, Adverum Biotechnologies and Sartorius-Stedim Cellca, as
well as numerous undisclosed partners in the pharmaceutical sector.

About synthetic promoters

Naturally occurring promoters have evolved for biological functions but
have limitations when utilised in industrial or therapeutic
applications. Synthetic promoters with DNA sequences not found in nature
are designed to better regulate gene activity and precisely control
protein production. Synpromics creates highly specific promoters
designed to drive gene expression at the desired level and specificity
in any cell type, tissue or environmental condition. Each synthetic
promoter represents a novel invention and thus can be patented.
Synpromics has developed a family of synthetic promoters that are
activated by the addition of a chemical, or by changing the environment
of the bioreactor vessel, by reducing the amount of oxygen available to
the cells producing the biological drug. The promoters are designed by
leveraging natural cellular response mechanisms to drugs or
environmental changes, which means that protein expression can be
induced without the need to introduce multiple genetic components
derived from non-mammalian systems.

About Lonza

Lonza is an integrated solutions provider that creates value along the
Healthcare Continuum^®. Through our Pharma Biotech & Nutrition
segment and our Specialty Ingredients segment businesses, we harness
science and technology to serve markets along this continuum. We focus
on creating a healthy environment, promoting a healthier lifestyle and
preventing illness through consumers’ preventive healthcare, as well as
improving patient healthcare by supporting our customers to deliver
innovative medicines that help treat or even cure severe diseases.

Patients and consumers benefit from our ability to transfer our pharma
know-how to the healthcare, hygiene and fast-moving consumer goods
environment and to the preservation and protection of the world where we
live.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today is a well-respected
global company with more than 100 sites and offices and approximately
15,500 full-time employees worldwide at the end of 2018. The company
generated sales of CHF 5.5 billion in 2018 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.5
billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.

Contacts

Corporate contact:
Dr David Venables, CEO Synpromics Ltd
E:
[email protected]

PR contact:
Deborah Cockerill / Juliette Craggs
Sciad
Communications Ltd
T: +44 (0)20 3755 0571
E: [email protected]

Lonza Pharma & Biotech contact:
Sanna Fowler
Head
of Public Relations
T: +41 79 539 061541
E: [email protected]