• The four-year agreement provides benefits for portfolio companies of Forbion and BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)
• Lonza to provide de-risking, development and manufacturing services for large molecule biologics
• The agreement will streamline the gene to IND process, accelerating lead candidate selection through entry into first in human studies

Basel, Switzerland, 10 December 2020 – Forbion, a leading venture capital firm building life science companies, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), a specialized life sciences venture capital firm focusing on early-stage European biotech companies, and Lonza announced today a collaboration agreement for the development and manufacturing of biologics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza will provide a tailored offering and advice and services to the portfolio companies of Forbion and BGV. The offering comprises early de-risking, development and manufacturing, and optimization services for large molecule biologics. By leveraging the expertise of Lonza's discovery services, this collaboration will reduce the risk of failures when selecting lead candidates and ensuring the optimum molecule progresses into process development. Use of Lonza's platform manufacturing process and leading GS Xceed^® expression technology leverages over 30 years of experience, enabling a quick and low-risk transition from bench to GMP manufacture for fast entry into a phase I clinical trial.

The agreement was developed by Lonza to support the unique needs of VCs and their portfolio companies. It's focused on making it easier for emerging biotechs to access preclinical/CMC expertise and services from gene to drug product, including expert regulatory support. This streamlines and de-risks CMC activities, simplifies the supply chain and accelerates lead candidate selection and process development to progress candidates to the clinic rapidly. The agreement covers gene to IND services for either mammalian or microbial molecules.

Quote from Pnina Weitz, Global Head of Venture Capital Business Development & Relationship Management, Lonza:

"This agreement provides Forbion and BGV with CMC support and expertise during their due diligence and enables their portfolio companies to leverage Lonza's broad experience in supporting the development of biotherapeutics. Forbion and BGV portfolio companies receive preferred commercial terms to Lonza's early-stage candidate de-risking and optimization, cell line development and manufacturing services, which enable a fast path to first in human studies. This collaboration is designed to benefit all involved parties and demonstrates Lonza's continuing commitment to emerging biotechs on their journey from the bench to the clinic."