BASEL, Switzerland and WALTHAM, Mass., May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRTO), a company developing novel, first-in-class therapeutics to address the medical needs of patients with kidney and vascular diseases, today announced a long-term contract extension with Lonza Pharma & Biotech for the commercial supply of investigational vonapanitase’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

“Proteon and Lonza have had a strong relationship for nearly a decade, and this amendment extends that relationship,” said Timothy Noyes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Proteon. “The amendment provides Proteon with access to a top-tier manufacturing site for the long-term commercial supply of investigational vonapanitase after potential FDA approval.”

“Lonza’s microbial expertise and versatile assets will enable us to anticipate and deliver API for Proteon at this critical phase in the lifecycle of their therapy,” said Marc Funk, COO Lonza Pharma & Biotech.

Karen Fallen, VP, Head of Clinical Development and Manufacturing for Lonza, added: “It’s always motivating for our teams to support biotechs like Proteon from Phase I studies through to commercialization and to see the impact for patients.”

Lonza has manufactured API for Proteon at its microbial manufacturing facility in Visp (CH) since 2009. Initially, a small-scale process was transferred into Lonza’s development labs for process optimization and consistency studies. The process was then scaled up to 1,000L scale cGMP manufacture to support Proteon’s early clinical studies and potential commercial requirements.

As Proteon worked to complete enrollment in its ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial, PATENCY-2, Lonza supported Proteon with three process validation batches at 1,000L commercial scale, each of which met the intended release criteria. If PATENCY-2 is successful, Proteon expects to include results from these validation runs in a potential Biologics License Application (BLA) filing in the second half of 2019, which Lonza will support.

About Vonapanitase
Vonapanitase is an investigational drug intended to improve hemodialysis vascular access outcomes. Vonapanitase is currently being studied in a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It has received Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA, and Orphan Medicinal Product designation from the European Commission, for hemodialysis vascular access indications. Proteon is also currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of vonapanitase in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

About Proteon Therapeutics
Proteon Therapeutics is committed to improving the health of patients with kidney and vascular diseases through the development of novel, first-in-class therapeutics. Proteon's lead product candidate, vonapanitase, is an investigational drug intended to improve hemodialysis vascular access outcomes. Proteon is evaluating vonapanitase in patients with CKD undergoing surgical creation of a radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula. Proteon is also evaluating vonapanitase in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with PAD. For more information, please visit www.proteontx.com.

About Microbial Manufacturing at Lonza Pharma & Biotech
Recent developments in next generation biotherapeutics including antibody mimetics and novel scaffolds have spurred a renewed interest in microbial protein expression and manufacture technologies. Lonza’s proven XS^® Microbial Expression Platform combined with more than 30 years of process development and cGMP manufacture expertise make us an ideal partner to successfully support clinical and commercial programs. .More information can be found at: pharma.lonza.com/microbial.

About Lonza

Lonza is one of the world’s leading and most-trusted suppliers to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets. As an integrated solutions provider, Lonza is boosting its value creation along and beyond the healthcare continuum with a strong focus on patient healthcare, consumer preventive healthcare and consumer's healthy environment.