SAFC, Novozymes Extend Growth Factor Pact

Novozymes Biopharma and SAFC, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group, have extended by 10 years their joint agreement for LONG R3. SAFC will retain exclusive marketing and distribution rights to Novozymes’s LONG R³IGF-I (LONG R3) growth factor for industrial cell culture applications. The highly potent growth factor is manufactured specifically for customers in the cell culture market and according to the company, enables clients to reduce operational and regulatory complexity and minimize manufacturing risk.

LONG R3 is expected to enhance the productivity and performance of industrial cell culture processes, replacing insulin in cell culture, specifically binding to type I IGF receptors to stimulate cell growth and support survival in serum-free media, according to an SAFC statement.

Michael D. James, a marketing manager at SAFC, said, “This exclusive 10-year agreement is expected to enhance SAFC’s market-leading position as a critical raw material supplier into the biologic and vaccine markets. It is exciting to see how the unique attributes of LONG R3 meet key development and manufacturing challenges as cell culture processes continue to become more sophisticated.”

Peter Rosholm, vice president, Novozymes Biopharma, said, “We are committed to supplying quality products for use in cell culture applications that reduce operational and regulatory complexity and minimize manufacturing risk. The outlook for LONG R3 is extremely positive as it uniquely offers both potency and innovation and we look forward to working closely with SAFC to service customers in this market.”