Wacker enters the biologics sector
On 1 January this year Wacker Fine Chemicals acquired biotech company ProThera, of Jena in Germany, marking the company's entry into the biologics sector.
On 1 January this year Wacker Fine Chemicals acquired biotech company ProThera, of Jena in Germany, marking the company's entry into the biologics sector.
ProThera, which will be known as Wacker Biotech, was formed in 1999 as a spin-out from the Hans-Knoell Institute. Terms of the purchase have not been disclosed.
The acquisition adds contract development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical proteins to Wacker's existing custom manufacturing activities. 'We are proud of this acquisition with its 30 highly qualified employees. ProThera substantially advances our corporate strategy of boosting our fine chemical and biotech business activities,' said Dr Gerhard Schmid, who heads up the Wacker Fine Chemicals business division. 'As a contract manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, we are now well positioned to extend into new and growing markets in the attractive biotech sector.
ProThera has worked on the biotech production of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins since 1986, and today concentrates on the development and realisation of efficient production processes and complete documentation of the production of microbially derived biologics. Its services encompass the entire process chain from the gene to the high-purity active protein ingredient, and support for customers from process development through clinical test sample production to market supply.
'ProThera and Wacker Fine Chemicals' combined biotech skills and expertise ideally complement each other. With its proprietary high cell density technique, ProThera has the tools to operate highly efficient and stable processes in a strictly regulated CMP/GMP environment.'
Wacker reorganised its fine chemicals and biopharmaceuticals activities at the end of 2004 to allow it to focus more effectively on its core sectors. The organic fine chemicals, exclusive synthesis and biotechnology business segments have been combined and integrated into the new Wacker Fine Chemicals business division. 'In addition we can further develop new and promising processes in our growth segments, such as the development of noble chiral building blocks, exclusive synthesis, and the development and commercialisation of cyclodextrins,' Schmid added.
'I am convinced that our global market presence and technological expertise not only ideally complement ProThera's range of products and services, but will also unlock their full potential. Wacker Biologics is excellently positioned as a custom manufacturer of biopharmaceutical active ingredients for the rapidly growing biologics market.'