Almac Group Launches Second Line for High Throughput GMP Peptide Manufacturing

January 2, 2019

Craigavon, N.I., 2 Jan 2019 – Almac Group, the global contract development and manufacturing organization, is delighted to announce that they have brought online a second stream for High Throughput GMP Peptide manufacturing.

The High Throughput GMP Peptide facility, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, manufactures neoantigen derived peptides for use in the production of patient specific, individualized cancer vaccines.

Almac has been active in High Throughput manufacturing of neoantigen derived peptides – branded by Almac as NeoPeptides™ – for several years. The NeoPeptides™ facility underwent a conversion from non GMP to GMP through 2018 and has been operating in full GMP mode since September. The facility has undergone a successful MHRA inspection and has now moved into routine GMP supply. Demand for Almac NeoPeptides™ is growing strongly and, in response, the company has moved quickly to bring online a second GMP manufacturing line.

Speed is critical within the field of individualized cancer vaccines and the entire supply chain is focused on minimizing the time between the initial patient biopsy and the ultimate vaccine administration. Almac Sciences’ NeoPeptides™ offering is built upon Almac’s track record in high speed manufacturing of peptides from its Edinburgh facility. The key which has enabled Almac to convert this technical competence into High Throughput GMP manufacturing has been the creation and implementation of a bespoke Pharmaceutical Quality System, designed specifically to enable high speed, fully compliant GMP manufacturing. The company can already stand on its track record; in the first eight weeks of GMP operation the facility manufactured and released >80 GMP peptides.

Dr Charles Shields, Vice President Peptides and Small Molecule API commented “Almac’s decision to bring a second GMP NeoPeptides™ manufacturing stream online so quickly after the first is a clear statement of our commitment to the field of individualized cancer vaccines. We understand this market well and intend to maintain our world leading supply position on neoantigen derived peptides. We will be announcing further expansions of our facility and our service offering in the coming months.”

Neoantigen derived vaccines have become a major new strategy within oncology as researchers look to harness the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The treatment platform is completely individualized. A patient’s tumor is biopsied and genetically sequenced to identify the epitope mutations which are present within the patient’s cancer. These neoepitopes are completely unique to that patient and their tumor. The neoepitopes are then replicated within a series of peptides – typically 10-30. The peptides are manufactured within Almac’s High Throughput GMP manufacturing facility, they are then formulated into a patient-specific cancer vaccine and administered to the patient. Each peptide manufacture is unique; manufacture occurs once and the product is administered to only one patient.

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About Almac Group
A unique culture delivering exceptional solutions

The Almac Group is an established contract development and manufacturing organization providing an extensive range of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors globally.

Our innovative services range from R&D, biomarker discovery development and commercialization, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply, IRT (IVRS/IWRS) through to commercial-scale manufacture.

The international company is a privately owned organization that has grown organically over the past five decades now employing over 5600 highly skilled personnel across 18 facilities including Europe, the US and Asia.

We have a global reputation for excellence built over 50 years of client service, delivering expertise right across the drug development lifecycle and offering a tailored solution to each of our clients.

To keep up to date with our latest news, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit almacgroup.com.

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