DSM Announces Biologics Development and Manufacturing Agreement for Australian Facility

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DSM Pharmaceutical Products, the custom manufacturing and technology business of Royal DSM (NYSE, Euronext: DSM KON), announced today that it has signed a biologics contract manufacturing agreement with Paranta Biosciences Ltd of Melbourne, Australia.

The contract covers the process development and cGMP manufacture by DSM of Paranta's lead recombinant human protein. This project represents an agreement for DSM with an Australian customer at their Brisbane facility. Paranta Biosciences is an early stage drug development company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel biotherapeutics based on recombinant human follistatin for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Alexander Wessels, CEO of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, stated, "Working with Paranta is an important milestone for DSM to support the local client base directly from our facility in Australia, expanding our presence in global regions. Our collaboration with Biopharmaceuticals Australia (BPA), the Queensland Government and the Australian Commonwealth Government is already bringing benefits to Australia by providing biopharmaceutical firms local support and manufacturing expertise."

Ross Barrow, CEO of Paranta Biosciences stated, "Follistatin has been shown to have great potential in treating a wide range of inflammatory and fibrotic respiratory diseases, which affect over 300 million people worldwide. Our selection of DSM as Paranta's biologics manufacturing partner is the culmination of an extensive global search process spanning more than nine months.  We are looking forward to working with the Groningen and Brisbane groups of DSM Biologics as we continue the development and manufacturing scale-up of what we believe will be a truly exciting biotherapeutic."

Karen King, President of DSM Biologics, the business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products operating the Brisbane site, commented "We are proud to announce that Paranta has selected DSM as its manufacturing and development provider.  DSM will bring over 25 years of experience, a state-of-the-art facility and an expert team in Brisbane to help drive the success of Paranta's lead project." In addition to an R&D and manufacturing site in Groningen, The Netherlands, DSM is building operations in Brisbane, Australia, with the support of the Governments of Queensland and the Commonwealth. The Brisbane facility is DSM's blueprint for its 'biologics plant of the future' for the production of biopharmaceuticals.

"For Biopharmaceuticals Australia, DSM's signing-up Paranta for the new facility represents a key endorsement of the wisdom of the public sector investment in the project," said CEO, David Hughes. "The Paranta contract is an important step in ensuring that more of the drug development value chain is retained locally."  BPA, an industry-development company owned by the Queensland State Government, put together the partnering deal with DSM, and is currently project managing the final stages of the construction of the new state-of-the-art facility in cooperation with DSM Biologics."

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Paranta Biosciences Ltd

Paranta Biosciences is an early stage drug development company committed to the research, development and commercialization of recombinant human follistatin for the treatment of respiratory diseases and conditions. The company commenced operations as a private company in September 2010 and became an unlisted public company in April 2011. Paranta Biosciences is based in Melbourne, Australia. More information can be found at www.parantabio.com.   

DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsmbiologics.com and http://www.dsm.com/pharma.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.

SOURCE DSM Pharmaceutical Products