Lotte Bio Signs Business Agreement with Excelgene... Strengthening CDO Capabilities

Lotte Biologics announced on the 3rd that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for CDO (Contract Development Organization) business cooperation with Excelgene, a cell line development specialist company.

A bird's-eye view of Lotte Biologics' 'Lotte Bio Campus' [Photo by Lotte Biologics]

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According to Lotte Biologics, this agreement is intended to proactively respond to the promotion of the CDO business by attracting various clients ahead of mid- to long-term strategies such as the expansion of the Syracuse plant in the United States and the establishment of a domestic mega plant.

Under the agreement, both companies will collaborate throughout the entire CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) service process, from drug cell line development to large-scale contract manufacturing. Additionally, they can jointly propose partnerships to potential clients requesting these services. Excelgene will provide services such as cell line development and high-yield process development, while Lotte Biologics will offer services including 'Master Cell Bank' services and clinical and commercial drug production. The detailed terms will be kept confidential.

Founded in 2001 and based in Switzerland, Excelgene is a cell line development specialist company that provides cell line development services to various clients, including major global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Through its proprietary cell platform, it has the capability to develop over 100 GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified cell lines annually.

Wonjik Lee, CEO of Lotte Biologics, stated, "To become a global CDMO company, it is important to enhance CDO capabilities, which require considerable time and specialized personnel," adding, "We plan to strengthen not only CMO but also CDO order competitiveness by collaborating with Excelgene, which has project experience with leading global companies."

Maria Warm, CEO of Excelgene, said, "This cooperation marks Excelgene’s starting point for entering the U.S. and Asian markets, and based on the rich expertise of both companies, we will jointly provide customers with the entire DNA-to-GMP solution process," adding, "Through collaboration with Lotte Biologics, we aim to contribute to the global healthcare industry."

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