Base to Base biotech podcast 13: Syngene commits to US market, and Nimbus Therapeutics on computational chemistry

This week, we have conversations with Dr Peter Tummino, president of R&D at Nimbus, and Alex Del Priore, senior vice president, manufacturing at Syngene International Limited.Interview times:02:00 Syngene 20:27 Nimbus TherapeuticsNimbus TherapeuticsNimbus Therapeutics is perhaps best known for two high-profile deals – Gilead’s $1.2bn acquisition of its NASH program and Takeda’s $4bn acquisition of its TYK2 candidate for psoriasis. NASH and TYK2 are well-known targets that many companies have tried and failed to address over the last four decades. What enables Nimbus to take on these challenging therapeutic areas and succeed?Nimbus leverages a unique computational chemistry, physics-based drug discovery engine to rapidly assess and confirm the properties, high-res structures and MOA of molecules and proteins as well as optimal target selection and molecule design.For example, AMPK—a target that has eluded researchers for 40 years despite its known importance in metabolic diseases—is one of the targets Nimbus has successfully approached where others have failed. Combined with the use of a range of AI and machine learning-based predictive modelling approaches, the company can identify and design molecules with optimal characteristics.Nimbus' approach is founded on tackling the industry's most difficult challenges – targets that scientists have long identified as valuable but put aside because they seemed impossible to drug effectively.We had a conversation with Peter Tummino, president of R&D at Nimbus, on the company, and the role of computational chemistry in drug discovery and development.SyngeneSyngene International Limited, a global contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), has acquired its first biologics site in the US - fitted with multiple monoclonal antibody (mAbs) manufacturing lines.The biologics facility, acquired by Syngene USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Syngene, from Emergent Manufacturing Operations Baltimore, LLC, will expand Syngene's growing global biologics footprint to better serve its customers across both human and animal health market segments. The new site will increase Syngene's total single-use bioreactor capacity to 50,000L for large molecule discovery, development, and manufacturing services. Additionally, it will provide Syngene's customers with continuity of supply from its four development and manufacturing facilities located in India and North America, offering services ranging from cell line development, process optimization and both clinical and commercial supply.Syngene's investment in its first facility in the US marks a strategic commitment to the US market, with significant benefits for the local economy and the broader life sciences industry.Syngene anticipates the site will see demand from innovative US mAb developers requiring direct access for 'onshore' production, as well as international innovators that want a US-based manufacturing option and complements the capabilities and capacity available across its facilities in Bengaluru. As part of the agreement, Emergent has the right to secure manufacturing capacity from the facility in the future, representing offtake potential from US-based innovators. It will also support the growing animal health segment in which a US site is often a key client requirement.We spoke with Alex Del Priore, senior vice president, manufacturing.To get in touch with guest suggestions, please email [email protected]