Wacker Acquires Pharmaceutical Protein Specialist ProThera
ProThera's expertise opens up new business opportunities for wacker as a custom manufacturer of biotechnologically produced pharma actives
Effective January 1, 2005, Wacker-Chemie GmbH is taking over German biotech company ProThera GmbH based in Jena. This was announced today by the Munich-based chemical company and ProThera, which will in future operate as Wacker Biotech GmbH. The acquisition expands WACKER's existing custom pharma manufacturing activities by adding contract development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical proteins (biologics). This step is WACKER's answer to increased demand by pharma customers, whose development pipelines - along with traditional chemical substances - include as much as 25 percent biologics. Biologics are used, for example, for treatment of cancer, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis. The partners have agreed not to disclose the terms of the takeover. ProThera was formed in 1999 from the renowned Hans-Knöll Institute, its employees having worked on the biotech production of recombinant pharma proteins since 1986. Today, the company concentrates on the development and realization of efficient production processes and complete documentation of the production of microbially derived biologics. Its services comprise 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. Recombinant protein active ingredients are produced to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. ProThera features comprehensive project experience obtained from its cooperation with various international pharma manufacturers.
Other news from the department business & finance
