Millipore Corp. expanded its agreement with Novo Nordisk to provide 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 an insulin product used in the production of several biologic drugs on the market. The two insulin products are manufactured in separate and independent facilities offering greater supply chain security, according to the company.

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 as well as an animal-free version that uses no animal-derived products in its manufacturing process, which helps to ease regulatory concerns for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

The current long-term supply agreement between the two companies was extended for several years, ensuring 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.