Merck to provide Provantage End-to-End services to Y-mAbs Therapeutics

Merck has announced that it will be providing its Provantage End-to-End development and manufacturing services to the biotechnology firm Y-mAbs Therapeutics.

The services will be used to support the late-stage clinical development of a Y-mAbs monoclonal antibody, which targets refractory leptomeningeal tumour neuroblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, and could be a potential breakthrough treatment for paediatric patients.

Following the transfer of Y-mAbs' lead cell line to Merck, the company will provide services such as the scale-up and GMP manufacturing of the antibody. This will allow Y-mAbs to meet its objective of launching clinical trials in the first half of 2017.

Udit Batra, member of the Merck executive board and chief executive officer for life science, said: "Through our Provantage services, which offer a templated, nimble approach to development and manufacturing, we expect to accelerate progress of this innovative therapeutic for patients in need."

The Provantage End-to-End solution offers a comprehensive suite of products and services enabling biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate the progression of molecules toward clinical testing and commercialisation.

It includes process development, cGMP manufacturing, facility design, equipment for pilot plant production, process and equipment training, technology transfer, equipment qualification and set-up for commercialisation.