Empowering partnerships : BioVectra ’ s commitment to collaborative success
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Shaping the future together
Empowering partnerships : BioVectra ’ s commitment to collaborative success
Establishing a genuine partnership between a pharmaceutical company and a CDMO can feel as daunting as summiting a mountaintop . Reaching that peak requires a relationship built around a shared vision that demands flexible , customised approaches , tailored to each unique endeavour .
Heather Delage , with more than three decades of experience at full-service CDMO BioVectra , implicitly understands this reality and why these alliances are crucial for successful drug development and commercialisation . As chief commercial officer , Delage leads expert teams in fostering enduring collaborations as they guide pharmaceutical customers through the complexities of manufacturing and developing a wide range of drug modalities , including biologics , mRNA and molecules requiring complex chemical synthesis .
A strategic partner for complex portfolios
BioVectra , which was founded more than 50 years ago , now operates eight world-class manufacturing and R & D facilities in Atlantic Canada , including a new drug product biomanufacturing facility for pDNA , mRNA and lipid nanoparticles ( LNPs ), and two state-ofthe-art process science centres .
These assets allow BioVectra , with its proven track record of scaling from the clinic through to commercialisation , to collaborate with the drug developers of tomorrow . Its combination of strong investment and deep-ranging expertise has propelled BioVectra ’ s growth — and don ’ t expect things to slow down anytime soon .
“ The pharmaceutical industry is heading into a new phase , and pace , of innovation ,” Delage says . “ Our commercial philosophy ensures we ’ re matching knowledgeable staff and strong technical capabilities to customer projects . Our commitment to commercial excellence enhances our partnerships in lock-step with the investments we ’ ve been making in our manufacturing competencies .”
She notes the company ’ s industrylow employee turnover rate , sharing that many staff have been with the company for more than 20 years . “ As we move into portfolio partnerships , we rely on the diverse skill sets of our tenured employees and the incredible wealth of knowledge , experience and customer service that comes with them . Our project partnership teams are engaged and passionate . Customers tell us our credo — We Care — comes across in how we execute .”
Expansion into biologics
BioVectra ’ s Biomanufacturing Centre , which opened in 2023 , is designed for the GMP production of pDNA , mRNA LNPs and sterile drug products . With the capacity to manufacture the equivalent of 70 million doses of mRNA vaccines , it produces mRNA for drugs to treat rare and incurable diseases in immunology , oncology , as well as infectious disease vaccines .
Furthermore , BioVectra has partnered with Acuitas Therapeutics to use its technology to produce LNPs , technology already used in Comirnaty , the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine , as well as other therapeutics . These new therapies are complex , multistep processes .
By coordinating raw material supply , manufacturing processes , analytical release , scaling and commercial supply , BioVectra offers an end-to-end outsourcing solution for its partners . Additionally , the company has made
significant investments in relevant manufacturing technology , including single-use fermenters , allowing clients to produce biologics for specialised needs , including the treatment of orphan or rare indications .
Sustainability commitments & future plans
BioVectra knows sustainability is no longer optional for manufacturers and is making investments and stepwise improvements across its operations . Company leadership has created an internal task force and devoted resources to delineate its sustainability action plan for the next generation of operations . The CDMO is committed to working collaboratively with clients to ensure its plans meet their sustainability goals .
“ Given our experience and competencies , BioVectra sees a world of opportunity in front of us ,” Delage says . “ We ’ re excited about future initiatives we have planned , collaborating with customers as they reach new heights of success , and supporting unmet medical needs and large patient population medicines .” ●
18 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981