Swiss specialty chemicals and biologics producer Lonza has agreed to sell its peptides business and operations in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, to PolyPeptide Laboratories Holding (PPL). Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the coming weeks, were not disclosed. PPL said the acquisition will enhance its manufacturing capacity and capabilities as well as enable seamless support for its portfolio as many products progress toward regulatory approval and commercial supply. “We will be expanding our capacity to meet the needs of customers who demand the highest quality products with the most robust, scalable and cost-efficient peptide manufacturing processes at every scale,” said Jane Salik, CEO of the PolyPeptide Group.

The Braine-l’Alleud site will add large-scale capacity in synthesis, purification and isolation of peptides, complementing PPL’s portfolio of late-stage products and providing opportunities for synergies and continued growth. Mark Funk, chief operating officer of Lonza’s Pharma & Biotech segment, said the peptides chemical business is a niche area for the company, which has only limited synergies with other small molecule technologies. “This move will also allow us to fully focus on our many other technologies, which we will continue to develop further. Lonza acquired the Braine-l’Alleud peptide business from UCB in 2006, he commented.

PPL said it will harmonize procedures within the expanded group in the coming months. With the acquisition, the group will have nearly 800 employees worldwide, with GMP facilities at Torrance and San Diego in California, USA; Strasbourg, France; Ambernath, India; Braine-L’Alleud, Belgium; and Malmo, Sweden.