US contract drug development and manufacturing services provider Patheon has signed a toll production agreement with leading biotechnology company Amgen. The US firms are based at Durham, North Carolina, and Thousand Oaks, California, respectively.

Under the terms, Patheon will supply flexible manufacturing solutions to Amgen to meet the growing demand for innovative human therapeutics.

As the rapidly changing biopharmaceutical marketplace presents tremendous challenges for biotechnology companies as regards demand forecasting, Patheon said it has developed “unique solutions and business models that provide flexible manufacturing options to allow clients to address complex needs.

The North Carolina company’s solutions include high-end process development and cGMP manufacturing services for both drug substance and drug product, from pre-clinical to commercial supply, for a global client base.

“We believe the departure from the ‘build or buy’ paradigm represents a superior value for our clients,” said Michael Lehmann, executive vice president, global sales and marketing for Patheon. He said his company emphasizes “a strategic and collaborative approach,” which differs from the traditional “price per batch” concept.

“This agreement with Amgen is representative of the changing dialogue in the pharmaceutical services industry,” Lehmann noted.

As Amgen launches new products and expands into more countries, it is critical to have the capacity to respond to increases in demand for medicines, said Rayne Waller, vice president, global supply chain. The arrangement with Patheon supplements the California company’s own core manufacturing base, he said.