Chr. Hansen, Lonza Joint Venture Gets Anti-Trust Nod to Manufacture Live Biotherapeutics

Chr. Hansen Holding and Lonza announced on Aug. 29, 2019 that they have received the relevant approvals needed from anti-trust regulators to establish a 50/50 joint venture in the emerging market for live biotherapeutic products. The companies originally announced their intent to establish the joint venture on April 2, 2019.

Going forward, the joint venture will operate under the name BacThera-a combination of bacteriology, therapeutic, and era-from its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Over the coming months BacThera will upgrade existing facilities in Hørsholm, Denmark, and equip new facilities in Basel to serve pre-clinical to Phase II projects. Further facilities for Phase III and commercial manufacturing will be developed as the pipeline matures. Overall, EUR 90 million (US$99 million) will be invested, shared equally between Chr. Hansen and Lonza, over a period of three years. BacThera is expected to be largely self-funding after that, according to the companies.