- Under the agreement, Lonza will deliver cGMP-standard drug substance for clinical supply
- The collaboration is projected to take Cantrixil through the planned Phase II clinical trial
- Manufacturing to begin later in March 2022 at Lonza’s HPAPI manufacturing laboratories in Nansha, China
Solna, Sweden and Basel, Switzerland, 21 March 2022 – Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB, an oncology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, and Lonza, a global development and manufacturing partner to the pharma, biotech and nutrition industries, announced today that the companies have signed a large-scale manufacturing agreement for the main drug intermediate in the supply of clinical material for its investigational drug candidate, Cantrixil.
Cantrixil, an intraperitoneally administered drug in development for the treatment of late-stage ovarian cancer, was licensed by Oasmia from the Australian pharmaceutical company Kazia in 2021, having successfully completed a Phase I trial. Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and is difficult to treat in advanced stages. The Phase I study of Cantrixil demonstrated the potential for it to provide prolonged survival in advanced ovarian cancer by inducing ovarian cancer stem cells’ death and sensitizing cancer cells to standard chemotherapy. Oasmia is now preparing for the initiation of a Phase II trial of Cantrixil in advanced ovarian cancer.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza will provide kilogram-scale synthesis, purification, and stability testing of Cantrixil, and deliver cGMP batches of drug substance for clinical supply. Oasmia will leverage Lonza’s extensive experience and expertise in manufacturing highly-potent API (HPAPI). The drug substance will be manufactured at Lonza’s recently expanded production facility at Nansha, China. The manufacturing is expected to begin later in March 2022.
Kai Wilkinson, Chief Technical Officer at Oasmia, commented: “We are excited to have partnered with Lonza, a global leader in drug manufacturing. The manufacture of Cantrixil is planned to be performed in three steps and this agreement is the first and most crucial step in us securing the clinical drug supply for its development.”
Christian Dowdeswell, VP and Global Head, Commercial Development – Small Molecules, Lonza, added: “Our team has extensive experience with supporting the development and manufacture of challenging molecules. We are looking forward to collaborating with Oasmia to advance this promising drug candidate in the clinic.”
About Lonza
Lonza is the preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets. We work to enable a healthier world by supporting our customers to deliver new and innovative medicines that help treat a wide range of diseases. We achieve this by combining technological insight with world-class manufacturing, scientific expertise and process excellence. Our unparalleled breadth of offerings enables our customers to commercialize their discoveries and innovations in the healthcare industry.
Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, today, Lonza operates across five continents. With approximately 16,000 full-time employees, we comprise high-performing teams and individual talent that make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as to the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 5.4 billion with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.7 billion in Full-Year 2021. Find out more at www.lonza.com.
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About Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB
Oasmia is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of new therapeutic options for patients suffering from hard-to-treat cancers. It has a growing pipeline of clinical-stage assets targeting late-stage cancers. Apealea® (paclitaxel micellar) is being made available to ovarian cancer patients through a partnership with Elevar Therapeutics, Inc. Development programs include Cantrixil, in clinical development for late-stage ovarian cancer, and docetaxel micellar, in development for advanced prostate cancer. Oasmia has proprietary drug delivery technology designed to improve solubility, efficacy and safety. Oasmia’s shares are traded on Nasdaq Stockholm (OASM).
To find out more about Oasmia please visit www.oasmia.com.
Lonza Contact Details
Victoria Morgan
Head of External Communications
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 2283
victoria.morgan@lonza.com
Dr. Martina Ribar Hestericová
Senior Manager, Science Communications
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 8982
martina.ribarhestericova@lonza.com
Dirk Oehlers
Investor Relations
Lonza Group Ltd
Tel +41 61 316 8540
dirk.oehlers@lonza.com
Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB Contact Details
Francois Martelet
Chief Executive Officer
Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB
Phone: +46 18-50 54 40
IR@oasmia.com
Jonathan Birt, Ashley Tapp, Giulia Lasagni
Consilium Strategic Communications (For Oasmia)
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
oasmia@consilium-comms.com
Additional Information and Disclaimer
Lonza Group Ltd has its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It has a secondary listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”). Lonza Group Ltd is not subject to the SGX-ST’s continuing listing requirements but remains subject to Rules 217 and 751 of the SGX-ST Listing Manual.
Certain matters discussed in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and estimates of Lonza Group Ltd, although Lonza Group Ltd can give no assurance that these expectations and estimates will be achieved. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty and are qualified in their entirety. The actual results may differ materially in the future from the forward-looking statements included in this news release due to various factors. Furthermore, except as otherwise required by law, Lonza Group Ltd disclaims any intention or obligation to update the statements contained in this news release.