Curia signs cell line deal with MilliporeSigma

Curia will gain access to MilliporeSigma’s CHOZN cell line technology to manufacture therapeutic proteins and antibodies.

Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Curia, formerly known as AMRI, has signed a licensing agreement with MilliporeSigma – the life sciences division of Germany’s Merck KGaA. 

Image: Wikimedia creative commons/Alexeames

Under the terms of the deal, Curia and its customers will have access to the CHOZN GS cell line, and it has already been implemented into the CDMO’s cell line development workflow.  

The CHOZN platform is a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) mammalian cell expression system. Both parties said this system enables quicker, simpler selection, and scale-up of clones for manufacturing biologics and therapeutic recombinant proteins. Moreover, it has optimized expression vectors and paired media and feeds.  

The glutamine synthetase (GS) part of the CHOZN platform has been designed specifically to streamline choice, identification, and advancement of clones for GMP production.  

“We continue to strengthen our biologics development offerings from discovery through clinical manufacturing,” said Christopher Conway, president R&D, Curia.  

“The CHOZN GS-/- cell line platform adds a widely accepted and commercially viable cell line to our capabilities. Our integrated offering accelerates therapeutic protein and antibody production and offers seamless tech transfer for optimal flexibility.” 

No financial details of this deal were disclosed.