Dive Brief:
- Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has announced a long-term collaboration with Merck & Co. (MSD) to invest and operate a large-scale 20,000-liter microbial biologics facility for the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients, reports Biopharma Reporter.
- The collaboration includes a $60 million USD investment on the part of MSD at its Brinny manufacturing plant in Ireland, according to a news release from Fujifilm.
- Fujifilm will pioneer customer interactions, program management and analytical development, while the MSD facility in Brinny will ensure efficient technology transfer and technical support.
Dive Insight:
Fujifilm Corporation acquired Merck Biomanufacturing Network, also known as MSD BioManufacturing Network, back in 2011, and it renamed the enterprise Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. Collaboration on the microbial biologics facility for the supply of API is part of a long-existing relationship between the two groups.
Such partnerships between a big biopharma firm and contract development, manufacturing organization are not frequent in the industry, Liza Revera, Director of Commercial Development for Fujifilm, told BioPharma Reporter. She says that the team will be able to maximize production and market capabilities.
The facility is set to be operational in early 2018.
