AstraZeneca looks East with WuXi JV extension
AstraZeneca’s Medimmune biologics business has expanded its existing joint venture WuXi AppTec, the Chinese R&D technology company that it first teamed with in 2012
The expanded alliance will see new biologics research in China, with the aim of addressing unmet patient needs in AstraZeneca's main therapeutic areas: respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; and oncology.
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca has the option to acquire WuXi AppTec's biologics manufacturing facility in Wuxi city, one of several manufacturing facilities for WuXi, in the next few years. WuXi Biologics, the biologics division of WuXi AppTec, will continue its role as exclusive partner for R&D manufacturing for MedImmune's biologics in China.
The original joint venture that was formed in 2012 was established to develop and commercialise MEDI5117, a novel biologic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It was described by Wuxi as “the first collaboration in China between a global company and a Chinese company to develop novel biologics”.
The IND application was subsequently accepted by CFDA for review in March 2015. WuXi will continue manufacturing for the program at its biologics facilities.
In April this year, WuXi announced that it is building the world’s largest biomanufacturing facility, using fourteen 2000L and two 1000L disposable bioreactors, which will support late-phase clinical and commercial manufacturing. The first phase of the facility will be operational in January 2017.
"We are very pleased that our collaboration with MedImmune has leapfrogged to another level of critical importance since our initial collaboration in 2012," said Dr. Ge Li, chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec. "The strategic alliance, the first of its kind in China, manifests the global standards and quality of biologics development and manufacturing at WuXi. Through this strategic partnership, WuXi truly offers a gateway for innovative biologics to be developed in China and to be made available to Chinese patients in an expedited fashion."
"We are delighted to continue and broaden our collaboration with WuXi AppTec, a company with strong leadership in the Chinese biopharmaceutical sector, to address the healthcare needs of local patients," said Dr. Bahija Jallal, executive vice president, MedImmune. "This strategic alliance, alongside our accelerated investments, will create a sustainable and strategic innovation platform in China and strengthen our leadership in developing next-generation biologics for both local needs and patients around the world."