Eurogentec
TypePrivate company
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded1985
HeadquartersSeraing, Liège, Belgium
Key people
Lieven Janssens, CEO
ProductsProteins, plasmids, vaccines, Oligonucleotides, qPCR Reagents, Antibodies, Peptides and Fluorophores Dyes & Quenchers
Number of employees
> 400 (2022)
Websitewww.eurogentec.com

Eurogentec is an international biotechnology supplier, based in Belgium, that specializes in genomics and proteomics kits and reagents as well as cGMP biologics. The company was founded in 1985 as a spin-off from the University of Liège.[1] Eurogentec's contract manufacturing organization facilities are licensed by the Belgian Ministry of Health to produce clinical trial and commercial biopharmaceutical material and also licensed by the US FDA to manufacture a commercial recombinant protein product for the US market. Eurogentec operates two manufacturing facilities in Belgium that provide custom biologics and oligonucleotide-based components for diagnostic and therapeutic/prophylactic applications.[2]

History

Eurogentec Biologics building in Seraing, Belgium

1985: The company was established in Liège by Professors Joseph Martial and André Renard, both researchers from the University of Liège. In the late 1970s, Prof. Joseph Martial ventured to the University of California, San Francisco, where he gained expertise in genetic engineering in an American laboratory. Upon his return, he brought back not only advanced skills but also a vision for the potential economic impact of university research in establishing entrepreneurial ventures.

During that era, the University of Liège lacked dedicated structures to support spin-off ventures. Prof. J. Martial, recognizing this gap, collaborated with a fellow researcher, Prof. A. Renard, to initiate the company. With the support of ULg authorities, the laboratory found accommodation within the university's facilities.

Initially, the company focused on the development of a genetic engineering-based vaccine tailored for enhancing fish breeding.[1]

1987: Eurogentec started to distribute Oligonucleotides for Research laboratories. The company's first years were difficult but in the very early 1990s, Jean-Pierre Delwart,[3] economist from Brussels University, boarded the ship and put Eurogentec in a favorable current.[1]

EGT North America, San Diego, CA

1996: Eurogentec became a contract research organization (CRO) for the biopharmaceutical sector and entered into collaboration with SmithKline Beecham biologicals (Rixensart, Belgium) for the production of recombinant proteins for phase I, II and III clinical trials. In addition to its pharmaceutical manufacturing activities, Eurogentec became a service company for the biotechnical research industry and university laboratories.[1]

1999: Eurogentec acquired Oswel Research Product Ltd.[4] a biotechnology company based in Southampton, Great Britain and specialized in the synthesis of chemically modified and complex oligonucleotides and their analogues (DNA, RNA, PNA).

2002: Eurogentec acquired Wita Proteomics,[5] a company specialized in proteomics services, based in Berlin (Germany). A few months later, Eurogentec installed its US office in San Diego for the production of oligonucleotides (EGT NA).[6]

Eurogentec headquarters building in Seraing, Belgium

2004: Eurogentec opened its new production laboratories (Oligonucleotides and peptides synthesis) in the Liege Science PARK (Belgium).[7] This intelligent building is also ecological: the building is equipped with a home automation system (lighting without switch) and the heating is produced from a condensation boiler allowing energy savings.[8]

From 2000 to 2008 Eurogentec intensified its services and signed agreements with several companies like Cepheid,[9] Epoch Biosciences,[10] Exiqon,[11] Delphi,[12] In Cell Art.[13]

2007: In order to fully meet the Oligonucleotide in vitro diagnostics stringent manufacturing requirements, Eurogentec expanded its current GMP facility in Liège.[14][15]

2008: Eurogentec received ISO 13485 Certification for the production and sales of In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) oligonucleotides in Liège. Two years after EGT NA[16] also received ISO 13485 certification for the Oligonucleotide diagnostics manufacturing.

AnaSpec's facility, Fremont, CA

2009 October, Eurogentec announced the acquisition of AnaSpec, a privately owned proteomics company based in Fremont, USA.[17] Anaspec is a provider of proteomics for life science research; they specialize in peptides synthesis, labelled peptides and antibodies, fluorescent dyes and enzyme activity assays.

2010: Kaneka acquired a majority stake in Eurogentec S.A.[18] Kaneka's products include synthetic resins, resin products, chemicals, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electrical raw materials and synthetic fibres.

2012: Start commercial manufacturing of a biopharmaceutical for USA market.

Products and services

Eurogentec has developed three interrelated business units, Life Science Research Products and Services, In Vitro Diagnostics Manufacturing Solutions, and GMP Biomanufacturing.[2]

The life science business unit specializes in genomics, and involves the development of oligonucleotides, DNA polymerases, Real-time qPCR Probes, assay services, and proteomics. The proteomics operations are primarily concerned with custom peptides and antibodies, assay kits and Proprietary Dyes & Quenchers.[1]
The in vitro diagnostics business unit provides technical and project support for contract manufacturing of good manufacturing practice (GMP) Oligonucleotides and Taq DNA polymerases for use in Molecular Diagnostic applications. Manufacturing processes take place in clean rooms.[2]
The GMP BioManufacturing BU, is a full-service Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) and offers significant know-how in process development, technology transfer, formulation, scale-up and manufacturing of GMP proteins, protein conjugates, plasmids and bacterial vaccines for pre-clinical, clinical and commercial uses, all according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EMA requirements.[2]

Products in development

As of September 2014 Eurogentec Biologics was developing a vaccine against bilharziosis called Bilhvax in partnership with INSERM and researchers from the Pasteur Institute; the vaccine candidate was starting Phase III trials at that time.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Clément Violet. "Eurogentec: Maturity Doesn't Stop Growth" (PDF). Wallonia-Brussels International. pp. 17–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eurogentec Biologics – Experience true partnership". Pharmatching. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Paperjam – "L'esprit spin-off est ne à Liège"". 1 February 2008. pp. 70, 71. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "11 May 1999 – Eurogentec has acquired Oswel Research Products Ltd".
  5. ↑ "19 December 2002 – Eurogentec has acquired Wita Proteomics".
  6. ↑ "01 October 2002 – Eurogentec finds a home in Philadelphia".
  7. ↑ Bodeux, Philippe (18 February 2004). "De nouveaux laboratoires de production pour une des premières spin-off de l'ULg Eurogentec" (in French). Lesoir. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Eurogentec trouve sa deuxième niche" (in French). La Libre. 18 February 2004.
  9. ↑ "15 December 2000 – Cepheid Announces Distribution Agreement with Eurogentec for Europe".
  10. ↑ "19 February 2002 – Eurogentec signed supply agreement with Epoch Biosciences".
  11. ↑ "18 March 2003 – Exiqon and EUROGENTEC announce market licence agreement on the use of Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA)".
  12. ↑ "03 January 2002 – Eurogentec signed subcontracting agreement with Delphi Genetics".
  13. ↑ "07 April 2008 – Eurogentec and IN CELL ART collaborate on the commercialisation a novel generation of transfection reagents: ICAFectin™441 and ICAFectin™442".
  14. ↑ "07 April 2008 – Eurogentec Celebrates Opening of New GMP Manufacturing Facilities for IVD Oligonucleotides".
  15. ↑ "28 January 2009 – Eurogentec recently received ISO 13485:2003 certification for the production and sales of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) oligonucleotides".
  16. ↑ "04 September 2010 – Eurogentec N.A. receives ISO 13485 certification".
  17. ↑ "23 October 2009 – Eurogentec S.A. finalizes the acquisition of AnaSpec Inc".
  18. ↑ "15 June 2010 – Kaneka and Eurogentec S.A. join forces".
  19. ↑ WHO. September 2014. Status of Vaccine Research and Development of Vaccines for Schistosomiasis
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