April 15, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — AMSTERDAM — SynCo Bio Partners B.V., a leading GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturer,has signed a master services agreement with OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells. Under the agreement, SynCo will fill and finish batches of OncoMed’s lead product, antibody OMP-21M18, for use in Phase I clinical trials.
Announcing the agreement, Pierre Warffemius, CEO, says, “We are delighted that a company at the forefront of cancer therapies has recognised our expertise in biopharmaceutical processing by choosing us to fill their lead antibody for early clinical trails.”
Paul J. Hastings, president and CEO of OncoMed says, “We selected SynCo Bio Partners because we needed a GMP-accredited contract manufacturing organisation that had a proven track record in filling biologics. With SynCo’s expertise in all aspects of biopharmaceutical manufacture, they were an ideal partner for us at this crucial stage in our development.”
OncoMed recently announced that it had signed a worldwide strategic alliance with GSK to develop cancer stem cell antibody therapeutics. One of the key projects in this alliance will be the development of OncoMed’s lead antibody product candidate, OMP-21M18, a monoclonal antibody, which is scheduled to enter the clinic in 2008.
SynCo will fill and finish antibody OMP-21M18 at its Amsterdam-based facility. This facility is able to fill a wide range of biopharmaceuticals into vials, including protein, polysaccharide, and live-microbial-based products using the latest filling and finishing equipment.
About SynCo Bio Partners B.V.
SynCo Bio Partners is a GMP-licensed bulk drug substance and final product CMO with in-depth clinical and commercial production experience with mammalian and microbial systems. This experience has been acquired by developing new production processes for a number of international clients and producing a wide variety of different vaccines, live bacterial products, and recombinant proteins in its state-of-the-art, GMP-licensed facilities in the last seven years.
Visit www.synco-biopartners.com
About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is discovering and developing novel therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells, the cells believed to be capable of driving tumor growth, recurrence, and metastases. The company has established a library of antibodies for the treatment of solid tumors such as breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancers. OncoMed is a leader in cancer stem cell research and the identification of novel cancer stem cell targets. Privately held, the company’s investors include US Venture Partners, Latterell Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, The Vertical Group, Adams Street Partners, De Novo Ventures, and Bay Partners.
Visit www.oncomed.com