Using plants instead of mammal cell lines to produce biologic drugs came to the forefront in 2014 when some companies working trying to scale up the alternative process in an effort to produce an Ebola treatment. Now a company that uses the technology in vaccine development says it has formed a CMO joint venture to offer its plant-based processes to anyone who wants them. iBio ($IBIO) said in a release last week that it has gotten an $15 million infusion from private equity group for a 30% share in iBio CMO. As part of the deal iBio has taken on a 35-year lease for space in Bryan, Texas, that was previously owned by Caliber Biotherapeutics which iBio will use for the CMO operation. Release
> Excipients maker Colorcon has acquired a line of pharmaceutical sugar coatings from Paulaur. Release
> CDMO Aesica Pharmaceuticals says it is now able to do everything from API production to commercial scale manufacturing at its Queensborough, U.K., site after relocating development and clinical manufacturing services from its Nottingham location. Release
> Biotech Bamboo Therapeutics has acquired an 11,000-square-foot viral gene therapy manufacturing facility from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for an undisclosed sum. Report
> Abbott's ($ABT) Compounding Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of sterile compounded products due to concerns about lack of sterility assurance. Release