Teva and Lonza to discontinue biologics joint venture

Published: 25-Jul-2013

Teva will pursue its strategy to create a portfolio of biosimilars, biobetters and biologics, while Lonza will focus on core expertise in contract manufacturing and cell line development


Israel-based firm Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Lonza Group of Switzerland are to discontinue their collaboration for the development, manufacturing and marketing of biosimilars.

The mutual decision to scrap the venture, which began in 2009, will allow both companies to concentrate on their own strategies and expertise, they said in a joint statement.

Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and CSO of Teva, said: ‘Teva has a track record of success in the biologics arena and we plan to continue and build on that success. This decision supports our ability to maintain a highly selective approach in our efforts to create a balanced portfolio of biosimilars, biobetters and innovative biologics that align with our overall portfolio and areas of disease focus.’

Stephan Kutzer, COO of Lonza’s Pharma and Biotech market segment, said with the ending of the joint venture the firm would cease investing in clinical developments and end product commercialisation.

‘In our assessment those investments in biosimilars will require more capital than initially planned and will also take more time until they reach the market.

‘This is why we intend in the future to limit our role by focusing on our core expertise in the areas of contract manufacturing and cell line development,’ he said.

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