MISSISSAUGA, Canada – May 24, 2007 – YM BioSciences Inc. (AMEX:YMI, TSX:YM, AIM:YMBA), an oncology company that identifies, develops and commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide, and its majority owned subsidiary, CIMYM BioSciences Inc. today announced that the manufacturing facility for nimotuzumab, the Company’s humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of cancer, has been successfully scaled up to a 500 litre-capacity continuous perfusion fermentation process.
YM also reported that Health Canada has issued a No Objection Letter for the product manufactured at the 500 litre capacity to be used in clinical trials in Canada. A competent regulatory authority in the EU has also inspected and certified the manufacturing process and infrastructure at the Center for Molecular Immunology. A further increase in the manufacturing capacity to 1,000 litre scale continuous fermentation is also anticipated to be completed in 2007.
Nimotuzumab is manufactured in a continuous process using a stirred tank perfusion bioreactor. This production method delivers higher production capacity than batch production in bioreactors of the same size.
“The 500 litre-capacity fermentation process is sufficient for the initial commercialization of nimotuzumab. This drug is also being manufactured for other licensees at Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Limited, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd. in Bangalore, India and at Biotech Pharmaceuticals Limited in Beijing, China, where production is anticipated to start shortly,” said David Allan, Chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences.
YM also reported that Health Canada has issued a No Objection Letter for the product manufactured at the 500 litre capacity to be used in clinical trials in Canada. A competent regulatory authority in the EU has also inspected and certified the manufacturing process and infrastructure at the Center for Molecular Immunology. A further increase in the manufacturing capacity to 1,000 litre scale continuous fermentation is also anticipated to be completed in 2007.
Nimotuzumab is manufactured in a continuous process using a stirred tank perfusion bioreactor. This production method delivers higher production capacity than batch production in bioreactors of the same size.
“The 500 litre-capacity fermentation process is sufficient for the initial commercialization of nimotuzumab. This drug is also being manufactured for other licensees at Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Limited, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd. in Bangalore, India and at Biotech Pharmaceuticals Limited in Beijing, China, where production is anticipated to start shortly,” said David Allan, Chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences.