
Resilience inks manufacturing pact with ARCH-backed cell therapy startup as it preps for the long haul
When you’re aiming to be the “Foxconn” or “Amazon Web Services” of biotech manufacturing, it’s all about doing things differently.
Some of those traits are on display in Resilience’s latest deal, a strategic collaboration to make Be Bio’s B cell therapies — or at least the initial rare disease programs.
The pact marks the latest deal for a fast moving biomanufacturing startup, which has relationships in place with Takeda, Moderna, bluebird and Harvard.
First off, there’s no upfront payment. Resilience is shouldering the manufacturing costs in exchange for the rights to “downstream economics,” including what Be Bio CEO Joanne Smith-Farrell calls “modest” milestones and royalties on any commercial products. Given Be Bio is still preclinical, that’d be years down the road, if ever.
The biotech will also enjoy a dedicated team over at Resilience to work only on its projects.
“It’s just a completely different thing than I’ve ever experienced with other CDMOs,” said Smith-Farrell, a former oncology exec at bluebird bio.
Resilience is the brainchild of Bob Nelsen, the co-founder and managing director of ARCH, which also led Be Bio’s recent $130 million round. Leveraging the unique attributes of B cells, the promise (in rare diseases) is to engineer a durable treatment option that combines the benefits of enzyme replacement therapies and gene therapies.
Be Bio is keeping the process manufacturing and non-GMP manufacturing in-house, while Resilience picks up the tab on GMP manufacturing.
“We haven’t got it yet on timelines to the clinic,” she said, “but what I would say is it’s fair to assume that we’re putting this deal in place now for a reason.”