Lonza agrees to acquire MODA, a global leader in paperless quality control

Lonza agrees to acquire MODA, a global leader in paperless quality control


Lonza Group Ltd announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire MODA Technology Partners ("MODA"), a software company that provides paperless quality control solutions. The acquisition will strengthen the Rapid Testing Solutions platform of Lonza's Bioscience division by adding a complementary product offering for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) organizations in the life-science industry. MODA's technology platform offers automated data collection, on-demand analytics and workflow visualization of regulated manufacturing processes including environmental monitoring, utility testing, and product testing. The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2010.

MODA's mobile data acquisition platform eliminates inefficiencies and reduces error rates inherent with paper-based systems in regulated manufacturing operations. Benefits include:

  • Reduction of monitoring costs
  • Increased data monitoring accuracy
  • Robust reporting and trending for meaningful analysis

• Improved regulatory compliance

 

At the same time, MODA technology enables companies to advance their green initiatives by reducing and eventually removing the need for paper-based, labor-intensive quality control programs. MODA's offerings include MODA-EMTM (Paperless Environmental Monitoring), MODA-VIPTM (Visual Intelligence Portal) and MODA-FDCTM (Field Data Capture) - components that help to bridge the gap between quality assurance and production processes.

"MODA's technology provides an excellent fit with our recently expanded informatics platform, building upon our industry-leading WinKQCL® endotoxin and analysis software" explains Doug Danne, Head of Lonza's Rapid Testing Solutions business unit. "We are very excited about our partnership with MODA, because we share in our approach to develop innovative, automated tools that will enhance our customers' ability to manage risk, improve efficiencies and help ensure final product quality."

"For years, Lonza and MODA have maintained a common vision for a comprehensive automated quality informatics platform, making this a perfect match for our customers, partners and both of our organizations alike", says MODA's CEO, Mike Desiderio. "We have always believed that the ability to use quality data as a proactive and responsive agent in the improvement of regulated manufacturing would mark a positive turning point in the state of the industry. In partnership with Lonza, this ideal is now a reality."

Lonza was an early adopter of MODA's technology platform in its own manufacturing operations and will now expand deployment across all plants globally. Lonza evaluated and selected MODA-EMTM for its Walkersville, Maryland (USA) facility as a result of its company-wide Lean Six Sigma initiative to eliminate waste and reduce lead and labor time. The experience with MODA further demonstrates Lonza's unique ability to understand the critical needs of a quality control environment.

About Lonza
Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Its products and services span its customers' needs from research to final product manufacture. Lonza is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Lonza is also a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.

Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. In 2009, Lonza had sales of CHF 2.690 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.

About MODA
More science. Less paper. MODA provides a mobile data acquisition platform that enables quality assurance and quality control organizations in the Life Sciences industry to automate their regulated manufacturing processes, including environmental monitoring (EM), utility testing, and product testing. MODA's flagship software, MODA-EMTM, is a paperless QC Micro solution that leverages mobile computing technology and advanced visualization tools for increased operational efficiency, improved quality, and reduced costs. MODA enables companies to advance their Green Initiatives by reducing and eventually eliminating the need for paper-based, labor-intensive EM programs. MODA is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania with authorized resellers and technology integration partners throughout North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.modatp.com.

For further information

Lonza Group Ltd
Head Corporate Communications
Michael Frizberg
Tel +41 61 316 8624
Fax +41 61 316 9624
[email protected]

Lonza Group Ltd
Media Relations
Dominik Werner
Tel +41 61 316 8798
Fax +41 61 316 9798
[email protected]

Lonza Group Ltd
Investor Relations
Dirk Oehlers
Tel +41 61 316 8540
Fax +41 61 316 9540
[email protected]