Rentschler Biotechnologie Announces Cooperation With Boehringer Ingelheim
Rentschler Biotechnologie and Boehringer Ingelheim, both leading companies in biopharmaceutical development and production, have signed a preferred partnership agreement. The cooperation will enable Rentschler Biotechnologie's clients to gain access to Boehringer Ingelheim's large-scale mammalian biopharmaceutical production facilities in Biberach, Germany and vice versa, Boehringer Ingelheim's clients to use Rentschler's facilities of process development and intermediate-scale clinical supply production.
Through the cooperation clients from the pharmaceutical and the biotech industry will benefit from the combined development and manufacturing know-how and facilities, leading to increased flexibility and ultimately more customized services. Compatible bioprocessing methods guarantee a seamless project transfer between the companies which are conveniently located in close vicinity.
Rentschler Biotechnologie, a full-service contract manufacturer focused on process development and small to medium scale production of mammalian cell-derived biopharmaceuticals, currently operates eight independent GMP lines with fermenter volumes of up to 500 L. A 2,500 L has recently been qualified and is going to start operations. Boehringer Ingelheim, who offers similar services with technologies optimized for large scale industrial production, runs one of the world's largest biotech facilities with fermenter volumes of up to 15,000 L.
"The cooperation with Boehringer Ingelheim will increase the value of our services, as both companies will benefit from the combined expertise and the easy transfer from small/medium to large scale production" commented Dr. Wieland W. Wolf, Vice Chairman of the Rentschler Group.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Rolf G. Werner, Corporate Senior Vice President of the Corporate Division Biopharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH said "Rentschler Biotechnologie is a strong partner for process development and supply of clinical material in Europe and complements our worldwide strategic Production Alliance Network. Based on compatible process technologies and Boehringer Ingelheims proprietary know-how and expertise in high titer and high yield manufacturing process formats we will combine state-of-the-art development at Rentschler for accelerated time to clinic with a smooth technology transfer to Boehringer Ingelheim for large-scale commercial manufacturing."
About Rentschler Biotechnologie
Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH is part of the privately held Rentschler Group based in Laupheim, Germany. As an international full-service contract manufacturer with a highly skilled staff of 340, Rentschler Biotechnologie has substantial experience in the development, production and approval of cell culture-derived biopharmaceuticals in compliance with international GMP standards. Regulatory advice and fill & finish are part of the company's service range. As a pioneer in the development and production of biopharmaceuticals, Rentschler was the first company world-wide to gain market authorization for an interferon-containing drug. In 2006, Rentschler announced an investment program of €50M for expansion of production systems. Currently the first 2,500-L GMP fermentation line is being commissioned. For more information visit www.rentschler.de
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 135 affiliates in 47 countries and nearly 39,800 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine. In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of almost 11 billion euro while spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.
Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the leading companies for industrial customer manufacturing of Biopharmaceuticals by offering the entire production technology chain in development and production at its biopharmaceutical facilities in Biberach (Germany) and in Vienna (Austria). The large scale manufacturing sites deliver biopharmaceutical products like therapeutic proteins, fusion proteins, protein scaffolds, monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments and plasmid DNA. The Biberach site is specialized in highly efficient mammalian cell culture systems with yields well above industry standard in animal component free media. The Austria site offers high-expression in bacteria and yeast with exceptionally high productivities using proprietary systems. In the plasmid DNA manufacturing arena Boehringer Ingelheim in Austria has set the standard and supplies early to late-stage clinical trials with gene-therapeutics and DNA vaccines for its international clients. For more information see www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/biopharm
SOURCE: Rentschler Biotechnologie