Acquisition of CRO IDBiotech
GTP Bioways, a French CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) specializing in the production of biotherapies and nanotherapies, has acquired IDBiotech. Based in Issoire (France), this CRO specialises in the development and manufacturing of immunoassays and the provision of analytical services for the quantification of target biomolecules or HCP-type contaminants. This acquisition allows GTP Bioways to expand its analytical service provision and optimise its support to biopharmaceutical companies developing innovative therapies, through the offer of custom immunoassay development adapted to their needs.
Alain Sainsot, CEO of GTP Bioways, said: “The combined expertise of IDBiotech and the GTP Bioways teams will allow our clients to benefit from strengthened support for the development of ad hoc analytical methods. We believe that through this acquisition, we will reduce risk linked to the late development of suitable analytical methods, and optimise development timelines, since we are bringing together various areas of analytical expertise under one roof. We are confident that in joining strengths with IDBiotech, we will reach our strategic objectives for the development of our analytical offer.”
Given the regulatory obligations in the detection of HCP (Host Cell Proteins), it was fundamental for GTP Bioways to offer a robust analytical platform to every client developing biological therapies. IDBiotech provides services to determine the percentage of recognition of anti-HCP antibodies (coverage assessment), whether from commercial ELISA kits or kits developed by IDBiotech from HCP originating from the client’s bioprocess. Former IDBiotech Managing Director Vincent Rivera said: “As well as a regulatory prerequisite, this is fundamental to demonstrate the suitability of antibodies used in the ELISA test chosen to quantify HCP, and thus de-risk the clients’ project ».
IDBiotech, now GTP Immuno, becomes the fourth entity in the GTP Bioways group that already includes GTP Biologics, GTP Tech and GTP Nano. Alain Sainsot added: “Following on from a buyout in August 2021, the operational integration of IDBiotech into the group will happen over the next few months.” According to Vincent Rivera, “this new beginning within GTP Bioways will help IDBiotech expand its activity through the development of new kits and new analytical services, and strengthen its presence on the European market”.
GTP Bioways strengthens position as leading CDMO in Europe
GTP Bioways has also announced an investment of €12M ($14M) into two new biopharmaceutical production lines at its site in Toulouse. The company will become the unique CDMO in France with this offer, based on two new lines, one focused on microbial production, the other on small-scale mammalian-based production.
The first line will be dedicated to production using microbial systems (bacteria and yeast). With a capacity of 300L, it will be operational in the first quarter of 2023; this will enable GTP Bioways to respond to a rapidly growing market. GTP Bioways will become the only CDMO in France offering a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) unit for producing proteins with therapeutic or vaccine-related applications, as well as enzymes for manufacturing mRNA vaccines and synthetic DNA. GTP Bioways’ project was awarded by the ‘Capacity Building’ call for proposals launched by the French government as part of the France Relance scheme, spearheaded by French investment bank Bpifrance. The microbial production unit project has the support of the Programme d’Investissement d’Avenir, with a €5.9M ($6.9M) backing.
The second pharmaceutical manufacturing unit is designed for the culture of mammalian cells at a scale of 10L. With this second unit, GTP Bioways will be able to produce small batches of proteins and antibodies – varying from a few milligrams to a few grams – for a range of applications. From Q4 of 2022, the unit will be able to manufacture biomolecules for vaccines and RMPU (Raw Materials for Pharmaceutical Use) for the production of cell therapies. This is a fast-growing need and one that very few European CDMOs are currently able to meet. GTP Bioways recently won a contract for the first clinical batches of a nasally administered SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, developed by Tours University.
GTP Bioways’ new production units fit comfortably with the French government’s initiative to bring industrial activity back to France. This was clearly demonstrated with the program ‘Grand Défi Bioproduction‘, launched in 2020, to build a domestic biomedicines industry. Looking beyond the current circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic, one goal of GTP Bioways is to become a preferred partner for biotechnology companies developing innovative treatments. This would see the company contribute to producing biopharmaceutical products within Europe, specifically in France; thereby helping to strengthen the nation’s ability to meet its own needs for biomedicines.
10/11/2021
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