Lonza to make ‘NET’ antibody for Citryll

Citryll BV has partnered with CDMO Lonza to help develop and supply final drug product for its Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) biology targeting antibody candidate.

Under terms of the deal, financials of which have not been divulged, Swiss contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Lonza will provide Dutch biotech firm Citryll in silico preclinical services used to assess manufacturability and immunogenicity, and final drug product in finished format for clinical material.

Citryll’s candidate CIT-013 is a tACPA therapeutic antibody targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) biology and is being developed as a potential treatment for various diseases including lupus, vasculitis, pulmonary fibrosis and organ damage due to sepsis.

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“We’re using existing technology to support Citryll including our established GS Expression System that will provide them with high, stable expression,” a Lonza spokesperson told this publication.

“Following on from the in silico studies we have done so far for Citryll to help them optimize the design of their molecule, we will provide them with all the support and services they need to get from gene to first in human studies.”

According to the CDMO, the unique part stems from the mode of action for this antibody, targeting an inflammatory response that is common across many human diseases.

“Citryll need to get to the clinic fast but also be ready to scale rapidly if readouts are successful and if they are granted expedited regulatory status.”

Cell line construction will be carried out from Lonza’s drug substance manufacturing at its Slough, UK site, while drug product manufacturing will be carried out at Lonza’s recently acquired facility in Stein, Switzerland.

“Having access to Lonza’s expertise in manufacturing and regulatory pathways will help us move to the clinic as efficiently as possible, bringing new therapeutic options to those suffering from illnesses where NETs induce the pathology including autoimmune diseases such as lupus,” Citryll’s CEO Helmuth van Es said in a statement.