Lonza steps up oligonucleotides production

Swiss life-science company Lonza announced on Tuesday that it is to strengthen the production of oligonucleotides - an emerging new class of therapeutics consisting of short nucleic acid chains interfering in the processing of genetic information.

According to the company, the increasing demand of oligonucleotides for the development and production of pharmaceuticals promises high growth. Based on initial ground work in this area of the production of oligonucleotides, Lonza is now developing current flow through technology, as well as alternative methods of synthesis for the manufacture of API's and intermediates.

The Lonza facility at Visp, Switzerland is equipped with small and large scale automated synthesisers for the production of oligonucleotides (DNA, antisense, siRNA) - complimenting the small and large scale stirred bed solid phase reactors.

For downstream processing Lonza will use small and large scale membrane technology, Ion exchange, and HPLC purification (1-3kg batches). The isolation equipment consists of lyophilisation and spray drying on small and large scale.

The Lonza group had sales of CHF 2.54 billion in 2002.