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Novo Nordisk, Millipore Expand Insulin Supply Pact

PharmaManufacturing.com
08/15/2007

Millipore Corp., a provider of technologies, tools and services for bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, on Aug. 15 announced an expansion of its agreement with Novo Nordisk, the world's leading diabetes care company, to provide the biopharmaceutical market with recombinant human insulin, a key cell culture supplement used to manufacture biologic drugs.

Under the terms of the agreement, Millipore will have exclusive worldwide rights to market and sell Novo Nordisk's recombinant human insulin, branded by Millipore as Incelligent SG and Incelligent AF, for cell culture media applications. Incelligent is the world's leading insulin product used in the production of numerous biologic drugs on the market today. The two insulin products are manufactured in separate and independent facilities thereby offering greater supply chain security to customers.

Cell culture supplements are products that help engineered cells to efficiently produce the proteins that are the basis of biologic drugs. Incelligent is available in a standard grade and in an animal-free version, which uses no animal-derived products in its manufacturing process. The use of animal-free supplements reduces risk and eases regulatory concerns for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

The current long-term supply agreement between Millipore and Novo Nordisk was extended for several years and ensures that biopharmaceutical manufacturers will have a guaranteed, secure supply of insulin to use in the production of biologic drugs and the development of new cell lines. For the first time ever, customers have a dependable multi-year supply solution for animal-free insulin. Millipore and Novo Nordisk are two global leaders who have partnered together for the past fifteen years and have the resources and stability to support companies' long-term manufacturing requirements for cell culture supplements.

"We are delighted to announce the expansion of our long-standing partnership with Novo Nordisk," said Andrew Bulpin, Ph.D., vice president of Millipore's Bio-Products and Technologies Business Unit, "It confirms both companies' commitment to supply animal-free, recombinant insulin to biopharmaceutical manufacturers for the long-term."

"Novo Nordisk is committed to manufacturing high quality insulin products for the cell culture media market, and given the importance of its use for patients beyond the diabetes area, we are expanding our relationship with Millipore," said Jesper Høiland, Novo Nordisk's senior vice president of International Operations. "This expanded relationship will address the business continuity needs of biopharmaceutical manufacturers. We believe that our ability to minimize supply risk is a unique advantage that only Novo Nordisk can deliver due to our position as the world's top insulin manufacturer. Our partnership also reflects Millipore's broad portfolio of cell culture supplements and superior position as a supplier to the biopharmaceutical market."

For more information on Novo Nordisk, visit www.novonordisk.com. To learn more about Millipore, visit www.millipore.com.