Willow Biosciences Inc (TSX:WLLW, OTCQB:CANSF) told investors it has partnered with Spanish life science company Suanfarma to bring sustainably sourced products to market using their joint capabilities.
The companies have entered a collaboration agreement for a cell line productivity optimization development program to manufacture a large volume anti-infective Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) through precision fermentation.
Through the partnership, Suanfarma has engaged Willow to apply its strain engineering technology platform to enable more cost-effective commercial production of the API at Suanfarma’s manufacturing site.
Willow noted that the two companies announced an alliance in March 2023 to work together on existing pharma and biotechnological capabilities for synthetic molecules including anti-infectives and other APIs and intermediates for Pharma and natural ingredients designed for the Health & Wellness and Food & Beverage industries.
The latest collaboration takes this further by offering an end-to-end synthetic biology solution and expanding the parties' joint product portfolio, it added.
"We are pleased to further expand our successful relationship with Suanfarma to bring sustainably sourced products to market by leveraging our joint capabilities and their proven efficient manufacturing resources," Willow’ president and CEO Chris Saville commented.
"Together, we see a number of opportunities to create alternative means to more sustainably produce key products for better human health and wellness and we look forward to working with the Suanfarma team."
Suanfarma said the partnership will help broaden its portfolio by maximizing product quality at reduced cost through fermentation technology.
"Following successful development, we look forward to bringing these life-enhancing products to market at industrial scale through our manufacturing site in Europe,” Suanfarma industrial director Daniel Rivero added.
“Suanframa CDMO provides contract development and manufacturing organization services to the market, with solid track record and expertise in fermentation, purification and chemical synthesis technologies under the highest standards of quality for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.”
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