Oncobiologics To Launch PoC Engine at BIO

Oncobiologics, Inc. will debut at the 2011 BIO International Convention, which is being held June 27-30 in Washington, DC. Founded by a group of scientists and engineers from such companies as Genentech, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bayer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough and Medarex, Oncobiologics is commercializing a new one-stop proof-of-concept “engine” that will enable biologic drug developers to “economically and efficiently develop more of their preclinical drug candidates,” according to a company statement.

Dr. Pankaj Mohan, Oncobiologics’ founder and chief executive officer, commented, “Oncobiologics was created to help unleash the tremendous wealth of preclinical assets generated by the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry. Historically, roughly 40% of those assets suffer significant delays due to capacity and financial constraints. Oncobiologics aims to deliver the world-class technical capabilities found at top-tier companies, with a cost structure that more closely resembles low-cost country outsourcing, thus easing this critical bottleneck.”

The company’s business model features a core set of expert services that are supplemented by strategic partnerships with external industry specialists. Internal services include cell and molecular biology, and process, analytical and formulation development. Manufacturing services include stability studies, non-clinical manufacturing and QC testing, with clinical manufacturing commencing in 2012. External partner offerings include preclinical animal studies, immunogenicity studies, clinical study design and execution and regulatory affairs. Oncobiologics offers turnkey proof-of-concept program outsourcing, or discrete projects to complement a client’s internal development efforts, according to the company.

Oncobiologics was awarded funding from the U.S. government to support the development of a novel cancer platform drug in partnership with a major cancer research center. This program will also serve to showcase Oncobiologic’s capabilities to other prospective partners.

Oncobiologics operates from a newly outfitted 25,000-sq.-ft. multi-host facility in Cranbury, NJ. The company is planning a grand opening event with government and industry dignitaries in August 2011. The company will be exhibiting at booth 1950 at BIO.