Start-up firm moves into mammalian cell biologics

Drug company Purdue Pharma has started third-party contract manufacturing of mammalian cell culture biopharmaceuticals and sustained-release microspheres. The company focus on customers requiring monoclonal antibodies derived from mammalian cell culture for clinical trials and drug development. The company's microsphere division manufactures sustain-release microparticle drug-delivery systems on a contract basis. Biological suppliers will target large drug companies, but there is a large market for small biotech and pharmaceuticals firms with products in development and clinical trials.