Three Ohio-based contract organizations win $149M deal for neurological candidates
Three contract organizations based near the capital of Ohio are starting the year with a multimillion-dollar deal.
The science and technology company Battelle, contract researcher AmplifyBio and CDMO Andelyn Biosciences have netted an eight-year, $149 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to help advance therapies for treat neurological conditions.
A Battelle spokesperson told Endpoints News via email that the company’s role will involve program management and technical leadership in assay development.
AmplifyBio’s role will focus on preclinical studies, such as design and support around neurological safety and efficacy. According to an AmplifyBio spokesperson, that work will include support for novel and specialized dose routes, in vitro analysis of drug efficacy and neurobehavioral studies. Andelyn’s the manufacturing partner for the deal.
According to AmplifyBio’s spokesperson, the contract itself covers eight therapeutic types including: oligonucleotides, viral vectors, purified proteins, peptides, ADCs, cell therapies, genome-editing modalities and nanoparticle-based formulations. However, the Battelle spokesperson did state that “we will have to wait and see what task orders are issued.”
The deal is also a strong step forward for all the parties involved.
“It will allow us to apply our expertise in the neuro space to assess the safety and efficacy of these drugs and support in the rich characterization of those drugs to better position them for successful commercialization. Also, this contract allows us to continue our strong partnership with Battelle, and begin a new one with Andelyn Bioscience, highlighting the strength of the Central Ohio hub for advancing novel drugs,” the AmplifyBio spokesperson said.
AmplifyBio, which spun out of Battelle in 2021, expanded rapidly across the Columbus, OH area last year. In May, the CRO received around $150 million to establish a new 350,000-square-foot facility, in addition to raising close to $200 million.
And in the wake of PACT Pharma’s layoffs last year, AmplifyBio also grabbed space out west, specifically a 46,280 square-foot lab in South San Francisco, CA, with around 40 employees specializing in cell and gene therapy development from PACT.