BIOVECTRA Enhances Manufacturing Capacity and Flexibility with ABEC’s CSR® Large-Scale, Single-Use Microbial Fermentation Technology

For immediate release

ABEC’s Custom Single Run (CSR) fermentation solutions offer working volumes up to 1,000 liters 

Bethlehem, PA, USA, and Charlottetown, CANADA, September 20, 2021 ABEC, a global provider of integrated solutions and services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and BIOVECTRA, a CDMO specializing in clinical-to-commercial scale production of high-quality regulated Biologics, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, and intermediates, today announced ABEC will design, manufacture, and install CSR single-use microbial fermentation solutions at BIOVECTRA’s manufacturing facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. ABEC’s fast-track manufacturing schedule will enable BIOVECTRA to be fully operational by Q2, 2022.

The seamless integration of ABEC CSR single-use fermentation solutions will enhance BIOVECTRA’s high growth microbial fermentation processes and provide fast turnaround product to product and between batches. The addition of large-scale single-use fermentation capability provides BIOVECTRA customers with greater flexibility, faster turnaround and higher capacity utilization. ABEC is also supplying BIOVECTRA CSR single-use disposable containers (DCs) from its two in-house ISO-7 cleanroom manufacturing facilities in Bethlehem, Pa. and Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. These facilities, as well as ABEC’s qualification of multiple single-use instrument and component suppliers, ensure a robust supply chain and timely delivery to meet BIOVECTRA’s rapid time to market needs.

“BIOVECTRA will be the first Canadian CDMO to offer single-use, microbial fermentation at 1,000L scale,” said Heather Delage, Chief Commercial Officer, BIOVECTRA. “ABEC’s 100L and 1,000L fermentation suites, complement our fixed asset base in biologics fermentation, bringing our customers improved economies of scale and greater process flexibility.”

“ABEC continues to lead the industry advancing bioprocess manufacturing with large-scale single-use process solutions,” said Scott Pickering, ABEC CEO and Chairman. “We are excited to help BIOVECTRA expand their capability, offering single-use, microbial fermentation at large-scale, and we look forward to supporting their continued success.”

About ABEC

Since 1974, ABEC has been a global leader in delivering integrated process solutions and services for manufacturing in the biopharmaceutical industry. The majority of the world’s pharmaceutical and biotech companies are ABEC customers; with many of today’s leading therapies manufactured by processes and equipment engineered, manufactured, installed and serviced by ABEC. ABEC’s unique value is based on long experience, complete in-house capabilities, a custom, flexible approach, and long-term credibility. Whether adding capacity or improving existing facilities, ABEC’s turn-key solutions and support services reduce overall cost and time to market while delivering maximum productivity. Visit abec.com, email info @ab ec.co m.

Media Contact: Susan Cooper-Curcio, Director of Marketing, [email protected].

About BIOVECTRA

BIOVECTRA is a forward-thinking, North American contract development and manufacturing organization with full-service, clinical-to-commercial scale GMP outsourcing solutions for critical raw materials, intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and biologic drug substances. An innovative and reliable partner with a strong regulatory history and commercial supply experience, BIOVECTRA has a 50-year track record of delivering: Biologics, Synthetic small molecules, Fermented small molecules, Highly potent APIs, and Bioreagents. We care about making better therapeutics. For more information about BIOVECTRA, visit www.BIOVECTRA.com.

Media Contact: Valerie Keays, Director of Marketing, [email protected]

SEO plus – Test

  • 20+ years at GSK, leading R&D activities on multiple vaccine programs
  • Recently held positions in industry include: Senior Director (Function Head), Protein Biochemistry; Director, Antigen Design & Prototype Production; and, Associate Director, Antigen Design and Protein Characterization.
  • Key areas of expertise are:
    • Process development of protein Biologics/Recombinant Antigens
    • Recombinant protein expression (mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial)
    • Production/design of Viral Vectors, mRNA vaccines, Bacterial outer membrane vesicles
    • Protein Engineering and Structural Biology
    • Defining quality attributes, biophysical characterization of proteins, and analytical strategy
  • Post graduate degrees in Functional Genomics (Université Laval) and Bioinformatics (MIT); M. Sc. Microbiology and Immunology (Laval).
  • 25+ Patent & 5 Scientific Publications

Normand Blais – Senior Director Development & Innovation, Biologics

  • 20+ years at GSK, leading R&D activities on multiple vaccine programs
  • Recently held positions in industry include: Senior Director (Function Head), Protein Biochemistry; Director, Antigen Design & Prototype Production; and, Associate Director, Antigen Design and Protein Characterization.
  • Key areas of expertise are:
    • Process development of protein Biologics/Recombinant Antigens
    • Recombinant protein expression (mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial)
    • Production/design of Viral Vectors, mRNA vaccines, Bacterial outer membrane vesicles
    • Protein Engineering and Structural Biology
    • Defining quality attributes, biophysical characterization of proteins, and analytical strategy
  • Post graduate degrees in Functional Genomics (Université Laval) and Bioinformatics (MIT); M. Sc. Microbiology and Immunology (Laval).
  • 25+ Patent & 5 Scientific Publications

Oliver Technow - Chief Executive Officer

  • Industry Master Degree from Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce, Frankfurt Germany.
  • More than 20 years of global pharmaceutical industry experience.
  • Held numerous leadership positions in commercial development, marketing and brand management, and lifecycle management and has extensive product launch and market access expertise in Europe and North America.
  • In 1997, joined Eisai GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany and in 2002, was appointed Director, CNS Business Unit; in 2006, was appointed Vice President, Head of Global Marketing for Eisai Inc. in Woodcliff Lake, NJ;  in 2011, was appointed Vice President, Established Products Business Unit; in 2013, was appointed President & General Manager for Eisai Limited in Mississauga, ON.
  • Appointed President of BIOVECTRA Inc., December 10, 2015.
  • Board Director for BIOTECanada
  • Member of the Steering Council of Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC)
  • In 2017, appointed to the Government of Canada’s Health/Bio-sciences Strategic Economic Table
  • In November 2019, promoted to Chief Executive Officer at BIOVECTRA
  • In June 2020, named new Chair of PEI BioAlliance Board of Directors