RION Taps Lonza for Large-Scale Manufacturing of Exosome Therapeutics, Advancing Regenerative Medicine
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
In a significant move for the field of regenerative medicine, RION, a clinical-stage biotech company founded by physicians from the Mayo Clinic, has engaged Lonza, a global leader in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, to scale up the production of its innovative exosome-based therapies. This strategic collaboration positions RION at the forefront of Exosome Therapeutics Manufacturing, transitioning its processes from pilot-scale to large-scale—a crucial step for advancing its "off-the-shelf" products through clinical trials and toward potential commercialization.
The partnership centers on RION’s proprietary Purified Exosome Product™ (PEP™) platform. Exosomes, which are a type of extracellular vesicle (EV), are described as "tiny messengers" released by cells that carry important biological cargo like proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. This cargo enables them to play a key role in cell-to-cell communication. RION's technology leverages platelets as the source for its exosomes, as platelets are nature's "first responders" to injury, making them a rich source for regenerative therapies. The PEP™ platform is currently being developed for applications such as wound healing.
As demand for these pioneering treatments grows, the need for a robust and scalable manufacturing process has become paramount. This is where Lonza's expertise becomes critical. The collaboration will focus on transferring and optimizing RION's existing manufacturing process to establish a large-scale, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) compliant production model. This work will be conducted at Lonza's state-of-the-art facility in Cambridge, MA, where their specialized teams will help RION overcome the complex challenges associated with producing exosome therapies at a commercial scale.
Leaders from both companies expressed optimism about the collaboration's potential. Dr. Atta Behfar, Founder of RION, stated, "Lonza is a world-class and experienced partner that will allow us to have a robust and scalable manufacturing process for our lead programs... As we continue to advance our products through the clinic, a reliable manufacturing partner is essential to ensure we can deliver our therapies to patients in need".
Echoing this sentiment, Deanna M. Mudgett, Head of Cell and Gene Technologies R&D, Lonza, commented, "We are excited to support RION in the development of their innovative exosome platform. We will leverage our process development expertise and experience in the manufacturing of extracellular vesicles to help bring this new treatment modality to the market". This partnership not only marks a critical milestone for RION but also signals a major step forward in making the promise of exosome-based regenerative medicine a widespread reality.
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