Upstream & Downstream Processing Archives - Page 25 of 38 - BioProcess InternationalBioProcess International

Thermo Fisher $50m spend to support high single-use uptake

Single-use adoption has gone from niche applications to standard practice in biomanufacturing says Thermo Fisher, which is expanding its disposable capabilities. Thermo Fisher has laid down plans to expand its bioproduction equipment capacity through a $50 million (€45 million) investment on the back of growing demand for its single-use bioprocess container (BPC) systems. “The majority of our 2019 investment will be across our SUT [single-use technology] network in the US, and nearly $10 million will be spent specifically at our…

German Merck: Continuous is key for bioprocess future

by Dan Stanton

Merck KGaA reports a 15% year-on-year growth in its Process Solutions business and looks to its next-generation bioprocessing platform BioContinuum to continue the momentum. For the first quarter 2019, Germany’s Merck saw net sales within its life science business of €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion), up from €1.5 billion in the same period last year. The firm’s Process Solutions unit – which includes MilliporeSigma – however, saw a 15.1% year-on-year growth driven by bioprocessing demand, equating to €700 million. Merck’s results…

OPUS focus: Repligen expands to support chromatography demand

by Dan Stanton

Bioprocessing vendor Repligen will add eight manufacturing suites to keep ahead of demand for its large-scale OPUS prefilled chromatography columns. During Repligen Corporation’s first quarter conference call, CEO Tony Hunt reported “another great quarter” for its OPUS pre-packed chromatography columns business, with sales up over 40% year-on-year. The firm did not break down how much the business brought in, but total sales at Repligen for the quarter reached $60.6 million (€54 million), up 35% on the same period 2018. “The…

MilliporeSigma and Thermo contribute to Biolife’s ‘blowout’ Q1

by Dan Stanton

Distributors STEMCELL Technologies and VWR also cited as sales of Biolife Solutions’s bio-preservation media and automated thawing products increased 51% year-on-year. For the first quarter 2019, Biolife, which makes and supplies biopreservation media and automated cell thawing media devices for cell and gene therapies, reported record revenues of $5.8 million (€5.2 million). “Dead cells don’t cure cancer, and the combined therapeutic, and economic risks our customers are facing should broaden use of our products as a best practice in the…

Fungal infection? Biopharma embrace boosts Dyadic’s high titer platform

by Dan Stanton

Dyadic Internationally has struck three deals in two weeks as its industrially-proven fungus-based expression system receives the attention of biotech and Big Pharma. Dyadic reported a busy first quarter 2019 with R&D revenues of $403,000 (€359,000), more than double the same period 2018. The firm also updated investors on recent activity, specifically a wave of deals over the past few weeks supporting its C1 gene expression platform. In April, Australia’s Luina Bio struck a sub-licensing deal with Dyadic, and a…

Pfenex ready to play in next wave smaller biologics

by Dan Stanton

As industry looks to smaller sized proteins and engineered scaffolds, Pfenex believes its expression technology will make it a significant player in the space. For its first quarter 2019, Pfenex reported a 177% jump in revenues year-on-year to $10.4 million (€9.2 million), attributed to milestone payments and recognition of deferred revenues from its PF708 partners, and increased sales of its CRM197 product. Lead program PF708 is a recombinant protein form of parathyroid hormone with a PDUFA date of October 7.…

Repligen to buy analytics firm C Technologies for $240m

by Dan Stanton

Repligen Corporation will expand its bioprocessing services into the process analytics space through the acquisition of C Technologies. The deal, set to close in the next few weeks, sees Repligen add Bridgewater, New Jersey-based spectroscopy firm C Technologies to its bioprocess services. The $240 million (€214 million) deal is comprised of $192 million in cash plus $48 million in Repligen common stock. Repligen has focused over the last few years on broadening out its bioprocess portfolio. While it still boasts…

Waters: Strength in biopharma as it takes small molecule hit

by Dan Stanton

Chromatography and measurement company Waters Corporation experienced a volatile Q1 but its biopharma business remains high, backed by significant investments in the space. For the first quarter 2019, Waters Corporation reported sales of $514 million (€458 million), a drop of 3% on the same period last year. Waters CEO Chris O’Connell attributed the unexpected fall in sales to “greater-than-expected macro impacts in China and Europe, as well as a slow release of budgets by key pharmaceutical and industrial customers,” but…

Emerson buys Bio-G, adding modeling and scheduling software

by Dan Stanton

Analytics and modeling tools can help deliver more effective and safer therapies to patients says Emerson, fresh from its acquisition of Bioproduction Group (Bio-G). Terms of the acquisition have not been divulged, but technology and engineering company Emerson extends its life sciences technology portfolio through the addition of Bio-G. “Many of biopharma’s biggest companies use Bio-G’s modeling and scheduling software for de-bottlenecking and optimization, and many of these same companies trust Emerson expertise and software to control their production and…

Danaher’s bioprocess biz bright with China and GE on horizon

by Dan Stanton

With continued double-digit growth in China and the future addition of GE Healthcare’s Biopharma business, Danaher Corporation is poised to strengthen its position in the bioprocess space. Danaher Corporation reported a robust first quarter last week, with 4% year-on-year sales growth across all businesses to $4.9 billion (€4.4 billion). Core revenue from Life Sciences grew 7%, which included contributions from Pall Corporation, a major vendor in the bioprocess space. The firm does not report financials from its individual businesses. “In…