Just - Evotec Biologics Opens Cutting-Edge Biologics Facility - J.POD(R) Toulouse, France (EU)

Rhea-AI Summary

Just - Evotec Biologics, part of Evotec SE, has opened its J.POD® Toulouse, France (EU) facility, marking a significant milestone in biologics manufacturing. This 15,000 sqm facility is the first of its kind in Europe, utilizing advanced continuous manufacturing technology to provide flexible and cost-effective clinical and commercial biologics production.

The facility was built in just 18 months and can produce up to 2 metric tons of biotherapeutics. It features quality control and process development labs, a warehouse, and collaborative office spaces. The J.POD® technology offers a paradigm shift in biomanufacturing, addressing challenges in scaling from clinical to commercial production.

The project received support from the French government, Occitanie Region, Bpifrance, Haute-Garonne prefecture, and Toulouse Métropole. It aims to make biotherapeutics more accessible worldwide while offering enhanced environmental sustainability.

Positive

• Opening of J.POD® Toulouse facility, bringing advanced biologics manufacturing capacity to Europe
• Facility built in only 18 months, significantly faster than conventional biologics manufacturing facilities
• Capacity to produce up to 2 metric tons of biotherapeutics
• J.POD® technology enables flexible quantities and reduces manufacturing costs
• Facility constructed at a fraction of the cost compared to similar large-scale manufacturing facilities

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The opening of J.POD® Toulouse represents a significant milestone for Evotec SE. This $600 million-equivalent facility, built at a fraction of the cost, showcases Evotec's ability to innovate and reduce capital expenditure. The J.POD® technology's flexible manufacturing capabilities could lead to increased market share and improved profit margins. However, the impact on near-term financials may be as the facility ramps up production. Investors should monitor utilization rates and contract wins to gauge the facility's success. While promising, it's important to see how quickly Evotec can translate this technological advantage into tangible financial results.

Biotech Manufacturing Expert

The J.POD® facility in Toulouse is a game-changer for biologic manufacturing. Its continuous manufacturing approach addresses key industry pain points: scale-up risks and high production costs. The ability to produce up to 2 metric tons of biotherapeutics in a compact 15,000 sqm facility is remarkable. The 18-month construction time is impressively short for this industry. The facility's environmental sustainability features align with growing ESG concerns. However, the true test will be in regulatory approvals and consistent product quality at commercial scale. If successful, this could reshape biomanufacturing economics and accessibility.

Market Research Analyst

Evotec's J.POD® technology addresses a critical market need for flexible, cost-effective biologics manufacturing. The European facility strengthens Evotec's competitive position in a growing market. With biologics becoming increasingly important in treating various indications, this capacity expansion is timely. The modular approach allows Evotec to adapt quickly to market demands, potentially capturing a larger market share. However, success depends on client adoption and regulatory acceptance of this novel manufacturing method. Investors should watch for partnership announcements and utilization rates as key indicators of market reception and potential revenue growth.

• J.POD^® Toulouse, France (EU) brings disruptive, scalable continuous biologics manufacturing technology to the region

• Just - Evotec Biologics' J.POD^® technology offers a paradigm shift in biomanufacturing with cost-effective and flexible clinical and commercial supply solutions

HAMBURG, GERMANY and TOULOUSE, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / September 20, 2024 / Just - Evotec Biologics, the biologics segment of Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:EVT)(MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809)(NASDAQ:EVO), today celebrated the Grand Opening of its J.POD^® biologics development and manufacturing facility located on Evotec's Campus Curie in Toulouse, France. The J.POD^® facility in Toulouse, the second of its kind and the first in Europe, utilizes Just - Evotec Biologics' adaptable J.POD^® technology to provide essential clinical and commercial biologics manufacturing capacity.

During a ceremony on Campus Curie, Pierre-André Durand, Prefect of Haute-Garonne and Occitanie, Jean-Luc Moudenc, President of Toulouse Métropole and Mayor of Toulouse as well as Jalil Benabdillah, Vice-President, Economy, Employment, Innovation and Reindustrialisation of the Occitanie region, joined the Management of Evotec and Just - Evotec Biologics, to inaugurate the new facility.

Dr Christian Wojczewski, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: "J.POD^® is a bioprocessing facility by Just - Evotec Biologics that uses advanced technology to fulfill its mission of making biotherapeutics more accessible worldwide. The opening of J.POD^® Toulouse, France (EU), our first J.POD^® on European ground, represents a proud moment and a significant milestone for our Company. We are very thankful for the support from the French government, the Occitanie Region, Bpifrance, the Haute-Garonne prefecture, and Toulouse Métropole for helping us achieve this milestone at our Campus Curie in Toulouse. We also want to give special credit to our dedicated team, whose hard work and commitment made this possible."

J.POD^® Toulouse, France (EU) brings much-needed biologics manufacturing capacity to Europe. Biologics offer a potent therapeutic solution applicable to various indications. However, conventional fed-batch manufacturing poses significant hurdles, particularly during the transition from clinical to commercial scale. The J.POD^® technology, with its modular continuous manufacturing approach, enables highly intensified cGMP production of biologics at flexible quantities, effectively mitigating scale-up risks and reducing manufacturing costs.

Built in a short 18 months green field project, the approx. 15,000 sqm J.POD^® facility stands out in the industry due to its cutting-edge continuous manufacturing technologies in a small, simple facility design built in significantly shorter construction time compared to conventional biologics manufacturing that can deliver up to 2 metric tons of biotherapeutics. The site features dedicated quality control and process development labs for both clinical and commercial products, along with a warehouse and collaborative office spaces. The facility is designed with enhanced environmental sustainability, resulting in reduced water, electricity, and chemical usage compared to conventional facilities.

J.POD^® facilities are constructed at a fraction of the cost compared to similar large-scale DS manufacturing facilities in the industry. This significant cost advantage, with benchmark costs for comparable facilities around $ 600 m, underscores one of our key competitive strengths.

Dr Linda Zuckerman, EVP and Global Head of Biotherapeutics at Just - Evotec Biologics, commented: "J.POD^® is an innovative technology that not only scales biologics manufacturing but also ensures availability precisely where it's needed. With this second facility, we extend our capacity to discover and develop groundbreaking biologics but also, with our partners, deliver them promptly to patients in need. Our Toulouse-based team at Just - Evotec Biologics deserves immense credit for bringing the J.POD facility and its capabilities to France and the EU."

The construction of J.POD^® Toulouse, France (EU) benefits from French government funding as part of the Investments for the future Programme (programme d'investissements d'avenir in French) and is also supported economically by the Occitanie Region.

About Just - Evotec Biologics
Just - Evotec Biologics, wholly owned by Evotec SE, is a first-to-industry biologics platform company that leverages AI/ML technologies and world-leading molecular design, cell line development, process intensification and continuous manufacturing strategies to advance biotherapeutics from discovery through clinical stages to commercial launch. The Just - Evotec Biologics team combines deep industry experience in the fields of data, protein, process, and manufacturing sciences including automation with highly integrated and flexible capabilities to break through the scientific and economic barriers associated with the development of protein therapeutics. Our focus is to accelerate and expand access to biotherapeutics through scientific and technological innovation for our proprietary projects and on behalf of our partners. Learn more at www.just-evotecbiologics.com.

About Evotec SE
Evotec is a life science company with a unique business model that delivers on its mission to discover and develop highly effective therapeutics and make them available to the patients. The Company's multimodality platform comprises a unique combination of innovative technologies, data and science for the discovery, development, and production of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products. Evotec provides high value pipeline co-creating partnerships and solutions to all Top 20 Pharma and over 800 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, as well as other healthcare stakeholders. Evotec has strategic activities in a broad range of currently underserved therapeutic areas, including e.g. neurology, oncology, as well as metabolic and infectious diseases. Within these areas of expertise, Evotec aims to create the world-leading co-owned pipeline for innovative therapeutics and has to-date established a portfolio of more than 200 proprietary and co-owned R&D projects from early discovery to clinical development. Evotec operates globally with more than 5,000 highly qualified people. The Company's sites in Europe and the USA offer highly synergistic technologies and services and operate as complementary clusters of excellence. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on X/Twitter @Evotec and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning future events, including the proposed offering and listing of Evotec's securities. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "should," "target," "would" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include comments regarding Evotec's expectations for revenues, Group EBITDA and unpartnered R&D expenses. These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Evotec at the time these statements were made. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Evotec. Evotec expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Evotec's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

For further information, please contact:

Media

Gabriele Hansen
SVP Head of Global Corporate Communications
Gabriele.Hansen@evotec.com

Hinnerk Rohwedder
Director of Global Corporate Communications
Hinnerk.Rohwedder@evotec.com

Joséphine Pröhl
Corporate Communications Associate (France)
Josephine.Proehl@evotec.com

Investor Relations

Volker Braun
EVP Head of Global Investor Relations & ESG
Volker.Braun@evotec.com

SOURCE: Evotec SE

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the capacity of the new J.POD® Toulouse facility?

The J.POD® Toulouse facility can produce up to 2 metric tons of biotherapeutics.

How long did it take to build the J.POD® Toulouse facility?

The J.POD® Toulouse facility was built in a short 18 months as a green field project.

What are the advantages of J.POD® technology for biologics manufacturing?

J.POD® technology offers flexible quantities, reduces scale-up risks, lowers manufacturing costs, and provides a more environmentally sustainable approach compared to conventional facilities.

How does the cost of building a J.POD® facility compare to conventional facilities?

J.POD® facilities are constructed at a fraction of the cost compared to similar large-scale biologics manufacturing facilities, with benchmark costs for comparable facilities around $600 million.

What impact might the opening of J.POD® Toulouse have on Evotec's stock (EVO)?

The opening of J.POD® Toulouse could potentially positively impact Evotec's stock (EVO) by expanding the company's biologics manufacturing capabilities and market presence in Europe.