Dalton Pharma Services Licenses Thermo Fisher Scientific Enter Drug Development Agreement

Dalton Pharma Services and Thermo Fisher Scientific have entered into an agreement under which Dalton will use a proprietary Thermo Fisher manufacturing process to produce nucleic-acid biopolymers for pharmaceutical use.

Utilizing enzyme-based technology developed at Thermo Fisher Scientific's Milwaukee, Wisconsin, molecular bioreagents facility, Dalton will produce poly-inosine (Poly-I) and poly-cytosine (Poly-C) in accordance with cGMP (current good manufacturing practice) regulations.

Poly-I and Poly-C are polynucleotides that are used as adjuvants, or catalysts, to stimulate an immune response when combined with other substances in a drug. Dalton will supply these polynucleotides to Oncovir, Inc that will use Poly-I and Poly-C in vaccine development.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Thermo Fisher Scientific in order to commercialize their novel biopolymers," said Peter Pekos, president and CEO of Dalton Pharma Services. "The agreement is timely due to an increased demand for commercial quantities of these molecules as adjuvants for new vaccines. And, this partnership recognizes Dalton's expertise in cGMP manufacturing and analysis of complex molecules under cGMP conditions."

"By working with partners like Dalton Pharma Services, our innovative technology is finding its way into new and exciting therapeutics," said Mitch Kennedy, global vice president and general manager of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Genomics business.

"Ultimately, this allows Thermo Fisher Scientific to advance our mission as a company, which is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer," Kennedy added.