GLYCOTOPE GmbH acquires GMP production site of ORPEGEN GmbH
Berlin, Heidelberg, 24 July 2008.
Glycotope Biotechnology GmbH, a fully consolidated subsidiary of Berlin-
based Glycotope GmbH, has acquired the biopharmaceutical production
facility and diagnostic business of Orpegen Pharma GmbH, which has been
based in Heidelberg for over two decades.
“With the acquisition of the production capacities in four separate GMP suites, we are creating excellent basic conditions for the further development of our glycosylation technology, with which we are improving both our own and other products already on the market,” explains Steffen Goletz, founder and scientific head of the company. In addition, GLYCOTOPE now operates independently in the GMP-based production of its development candidates. The company already has its first manufacturing licenses under the Medicines Act (AMG).
“We see this as an important step in optimising the value creation chain for the
strategic positioning of our associate company,” says Helmut Jeggle, representative of Athos GmbH. The purchase was financed and co-initiated through another capital increase signed by investor Jossa Arznei GmbH. Behind Jossa stands Athos GmbH which, as the family office of the Strüngmann brothers, now makes its know-how available to select biotech companies and embarks
“In order to further expand the capital-intensive, pioneeringbiotechnology position at the Heidelberg production site with the glycoprotein know-how developed at ORPEGEN, the transfer of biopharmaceutical assets to the financially stronger GLYCOTOPE was the logical, appropriate thing to do,” says Christian Birr, managing partner of ORPEGEN Pharma, which he founded in 1982. The development and production of peptide agents, amino acid derivatives and small molecules will be independently continued by the former Chemistry division at the site, while co- shareholder Hightech Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG will withdraw from its involvement in ORPEGEN Pharma.
About Glycotope GmbH
The product range of GLYCOTOPE GmbH covers various antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals. This includes both its own antibodies for tumour therapy (PankoMab, KaroMab) and much improved versions (2nd generation) of antibodies already available on the market or other proteins used in therapy.
The innovative character of GLYCOTOPE’s basic technology “GlycoExpress™”, which is based on glyco-optimised human high-production cell lines, lies in the development of new drug compounds as well as in the humanisation and optimisation of glycosylation structures and hence the associated enormousincrease in the effectiveness of so-called “2nd generation” agents.
