CMC ICOS Biologics, Inc., a clinical and commercial manufacturer of monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins, and Trellis Bioscience LLC, a private, therapeutic antibody company, have entered into a manufacturing agreement for the process development and production of two of Trellis’ monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Trellis is developing human mAb therapies for bacterial and viral infections, and cancer indications, and has selected CMC Biologics to work with on two of these products. One is for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections that aims to provide superior post-infection treatment over the currently marketed mAb by combining antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity. The other is a first-in-class treatment for drug-resistant bacterial infections due to formation of bacterial biofilms, which works by disrupting the biofilm to resensitize bacteria to conventional antibiotics, with activity spanning Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacterial species, inlcluding MRSA and Acinetobacter baumanni. CMC Biologics will utilize its CHEF1 Expression System platform.

“We believe that we have chosen an outstanding CDMO to work with,” said Stefan Ryser, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Trellis Bioscience. “In addition, through their use of Multi-column Continuous Chromatography technology, where a reduced quantity of costly chromatography resins is required in the downstream process, CMC Biologics is able to provide Trellis, a significant reduction in our development and manufacturing costs.”

“We are pleased to be working with Trellis on these two exciting monoclonal antibody products,” said Gustavo Mahler, Ph.D., chief executive officer of CMC Biologics “With our extensive experience developing monoclonal antibody products, we are delighted to know that we will help deliver Trellis’ antibody treatment for RSV, a leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease in young children as well as their broad-spectrum biofilm disruptor human antibody for reducing the antibiotic resistance that is associated with biofilm formation.