Lonza to help manufacture Human Genome Sciences' Benlysta

ROCKVILLE, Md. A developer of a new drug for treating lupus has entered a supply agreement with a third-party company based in Switzerland in anticipation of the drug’s approval and eventual growth.

Human Genome Sciences and Lonza announced Tuesday that Lonza would assist HGS in manufacturing the drug Benlysta (belimumab), a treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, to keep up with future demand. HGS has been developing Benlysta under a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline since 2006.

“Our HGS large-scale manufacturing facility has ample capacity to provide worldwide supply of Benlysta following approval, and for the first two or three years following launch; however, we believe that we will eventually require additional capacity,” HGS VP manufacturing operations Randy Maddux said.