Avid Bioservices to Present a Case Study on cGMP Production Scale-Up, Optimization and Transition From a Stainless Steel to a Fully Disposable Process at BIO International Convention

Study to Be Presented as Part of the BioProcess Theater Program Follows a Biologics Production Process From an Early-Stage, Low-Yield Stainless Steel Clinical Process to a High-Yield, Fully-Disposable Commercializable Process Including Regulatory and Characterization Strategies; Biomanufacturing Experts Will Be on Hand at Booth #4280


TUSTIN, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 19, 2013) - Avid Bioservices, Inc., a subsidiary of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced its upcoming participation at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO) International Convention to be held at McCormick Place, in Chicago, Illinois, April 22 - 25, 2013. At this global biotechnology event, Avid will highlight a case study following an early-stage cGMP production process in stainless steel bioreactors at 300 liter scale, through a mid-stage clinical production process scale-up, toward a commercializable fully-disposable production process. The case study follows the strategies employed during the process evolution, including regulatory and product comparability testing and results. Avid is focused on continuously improving manufacturing flexibility and efficiency utilizing both stainless steel and single-use technologies, in order to reduce operation costs and accelerate speed to market. Avid is one of the first CMOs to implement disposable systems into its biomanufacturing production strategies. This case study highlights the integrated solutions package offered by Avid to maximize its clients' development and manufacturing programs.

"The BIO conference is a great forum to share our advances in achieving the best manufacturing practices for our clients as they move through clinical development," said Gene Yoshioka, Director of Manufacturing at Avid Bioservices. "Through our participation in the BioProcess Theater program, attendees will learn firsthand the latest developments arising from a recent comparability study on single-use versus traditional stainless steel systems and how our applications of single-use technologies yielded a more efficient upstream process. This is just one example of how Avid is consistently striving to improve the efficiency and flexibility of our manufacturing services portfolio."

Avid is scheduled to present at the BioProcess Theater within the BioProcess Zone on the exhibit show floor:

Date:
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 

Time:
11:00am - 11:25am CDT 

Title:
"Process Evolution from the Iron Age to the New Age: A Transition from a Stainless Steel and Glass to a Fully Disposable Upstream Process" 

Speakers:
Michael Brown, Senior Research Associate, Avid Bioservices, Inc. 
Connie Chang, Director, Process Science, Avid Bioservices, Inc.

In addition, as part of the biopartnering community, Avid Bioservices (Booth #4280) will be conducting one-on-one partnering meetings with industry colleagues. 

For additional information on the BIO International Convention, please visit: http://convention.bio.org/

About Avid Bioservices
Avid Bioservices provides a comprehensive range of high quality cGMP manufacturing services for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries to support the manufacture of cGMP clinical phase and commercial products. With over 15 years of experience producing monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins in batch, fed-batch and perfusion modes, Avid's services include GMP clinical and commercial product manufacturing, purification, bulk packaging, final product filling, stability testing and regulatory strategy, submission and support. The company also provides a variety of process development activities, including cell line optimization, cell culture and feed optimization, analytical methods development and product characterization. For more information about Avid, please visit www.avidbio.com.

About Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative monoclonal antibodies in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and serious viral infections. The company is pursuing multiple clinical programs in cancer and infectious diseases with its lead product candidate bavituximab and novel brain cancer agent Cotara®. Peregrine also has in-house cGMP manufacturing capabilities through its wholly-owned subsidiary Avid Bioservices, Inc. (www.avidbio.com), which provides development and biomanufacturing services for both Peregrine and outside customers. Additional information about Peregrine can be found at www.peregrineinc.com.  

Contact Information:

Contact:
Chris Keenan or Kelly Pisarev Lord
(800) 987-8256
www.avidbio.com