Avid Bioservices Expands Capabilities With Installation of Innovative Thermo Scientific...

Avid Bioservices Expands Capabilities With Installation of Innovative Thermo
Scientific HyClone Single-Use Bioreactor Systems

TUSTIN, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avid Bioservices, Inc.
today announced that it is expanding its biomanufacturing capabilities with
the installation of two Thermo Scientific HyClone Single-Use Bioreactors
(S.U.B.) in Avid's facility in Tustin, California. These innovative systems
will further enhance Avid's ability to meet the growing demand for its cell
culture production services. The purchase of the 1000 L S.U.B. follows the
successful evaluation of the 100 L S.U.B. in Avid's process development
laboratories.
The HyClone S.U.B. consists of a reusable stainless steel outer support
container and S.U.B. BioProcess Container (BPC(R)) that integrates with
existing bioreactor control systems, providing the advantages of single-use
bioprocessing without having to install a complete new bioreactor system. The
retrofit product replaces the stainless steel bioreactor vessel in existing
bioreactor systems, making it a flexible, rapid and economic option to
increase bioreactor capacity.
"The growing demand for our biomanufacturing services led us to assess a
number of options for increasing our capacity while maintaining our high
quality," said Richard Richieri, senior vice president of bioprocess
development and manufacturing at Avid Bioservices. "The Thermo Scientific
HyClone S.U.B. disposable system provides a state-of-the-art cell culture
production solution that is cost-effective and complements our existing
bioreactor production suite. Based on our positive evaluation of the 100 L
system, we are pleased to proceed with the larger unit, making Avid the first
company in Southern California to install the 1000 L S.U.B. system."
Mr. Richieri continued, "In our evaluation, we have confirmed comparable
cell culture growth and product quality between the 100 L S.U.B. and
traditional, non-disposable bioreactors. We are also very pleased with the
batch-to-batch consistency, which is an extremely important aspect in the
manufacture of biologicals."
Avid plans to use the 100 L S.U.B. to produce antibodies and recombinant
proteins in multi-gram quantities for its clients. The smaller unit will also
support the scale-up work for the 1000 L S.U.B, which will be used to produce
clinical material under cGMP conditions.
"Based on our experience to date, we believe that our innovative S.U.B.
systems will allow Avid to meet increasing demand for their quality
biomanufacturing services quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively," said
Spencer Parkinson, bioprocessing systems manager for Thermo Scientific cell
culture and bioprocessing. "We are pleased to welcome them as a valued
customer and look forward to supporting their efforts as they continue to grow
their business."
Avid Bioservices is a wholly owned subsidiary of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM).
About Avid Bioservices
Avid Bioservices provides a comprehensive range of cGMP manufacturing
services for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. Avid
manufactures cGMP commercial product, as well as clinical supplies for all
phases of clinical trials. The company's comprehensive range of cGMP services
includes cell banking, stability testing, clinical product manufacturing and
purification, bulk packaging, final product filling and regulatory support.
Avid also provides a variety of process development activities, including cell
line optimization, analytical method development and product characterization.
Avid has over 10 years of antibody manufacturing experience producing
monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins in batch, fed-batch and
perfusion modes. Avid was recently named the first pre-approved U.S. contract
manufacturer of the DSM/Crucell PER.C6(R) production system. For more
information about Avid, visit www.avidbio.com.
About Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a
portfolio of innovative monoclonal antibodies in clinical trials for the
treatment of cancer and serious viral infections. The company is pursuing
three separate Phase II clinical programs in cancer and hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection with its lead product candidates bavituximab and Cotara(R).
Peregrine also has in-house manufacturing capabilities through its wholly
owned subsidiary Avid Bioservices, Inc., which provides development and
biomanufacturing services for both Peregrine and outside customers. Additional
information about Peregrine can be found at www.peregrineinc.com.
Contacts:
Avid Bioservices Media
Candice Fliedner GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners
(714) 508-6188 Barbara Lindheim
(212) 918-4650

SOURCE Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Candice Fliedner of Avid Bioservices, +1-714-508-6188; or Barbara Lindheim of
GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners, +1-212-918-4650, for Peregrine
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.