Lonza enters the viral based-manufacturing market today with its purchase of Vivante GMP Solutions. The acquisition advances Lonza's strategy to broaden its biologics custom service offering for the growing viral vaccine and gene therapy markets.

Based in Houston, TX, Vivante is a custom manufacturing organization dedicated to producing GMP viral-based therapeutics. The company's viral-vaccine production services will be enhanced by Lonza's established expertise in expression technologies and large-scale manufacturing platforms. Additionally, Vivante's experience with pre-clinical through late-stage supply of viral vector-based products will compliment Lonza's growing cellular and gene therapy process development and manufacturing capabilities.

"Lonza is strategically committed to being successful in the growing viral marketplace. Vivante's expertise will allow us to accelerate our entry into the viral-based manufacturing arena", said David Smith, Lonza's Head of therapeutic cell solutions.

J. David Enloe Jr., Vivante's founder, president and CEO, added: "We could not be happier with the opportunity to be at the forefront of Lonza's expansion into the viral vaccine and vector market. We believe that the combination of Vivante's expertise with the technical know-how, financial resources, and global reach that Lonza offers will be a tremendous advantage for our clients, both present and future."

Effective today, Enloe and Vivante's employees have joined Lonza and will operate as Lonza's Viral-based Therapeutics Business.