Lonza Group

Lonza Group is a Swiss multinational, chemicals and biotechnology company, headquartered in Basel, with major facilities in Europe, North America and South Asia. Lonza was established under that name in the late 19th-century in Switzerland. The company provides product development services to the pharmaceutical and biologic industries, including organic, fine and performance chemicals, custom manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, chemical synthesis capabilities, detection systems and services for the bioscience sector.

Lonza Group AG

Type	Aktiengesellschaft
Traded as	SIX: LONN, SGX: O6Z
ISIN	CH0013841017
Industry	Chemicals biotechnology
Founded	1897
Headquarters	Basel, Switzerland
Key people	Albert Baehny (Chairman and CEO ad interim)
Products	Biopharmaceuticals, organic and fine chemicals, chemical synthesis equipment, custom manufacturing of chemicals and related products
Revenue	CHF 5.9 billion (2019)[1]
Operating income	CHF 842 million (2018)[1]
Total assets	CHF 13.921 billion (end 2018)[1]
Total equity	CHF 6.290 billion (end 2018)[1]
Number of employees	15,375 (2018)
Website	www.lonza.com

History

Lonza was founded in 1897 in the small Swiss town of Gampel, situated in the canton of Valais, taking its name from the nearby river. Initially the company produced electricity used to manufacture chemicals such as calcium carbide. Lonza moved to neighbouring Visp (where it retains a production site today) in 1909 and began manufacturing synthetic fertilisers, and moves into vitamins, acids, intermediates and additives followed. In 1974, the group merged with aluminum firm Alusuisse, after which the group moved into the biotechnology sector. Lonza de-merged from the Alusuisse-Lonza Group in 1999 and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange.

The company expanded in the United States in 1969 and acquired smaller biopharmaceutical units in recent years. In 1996, Lonza acquired Celltech Biologics and began producing mammalian cell cultures and monoclonal antibodies. In October 2011, Lonza acquired American firm Arch Chemicals for $1.4 billion, as a result becoming the world's largest manufacturer of biocides.[2] On 15 August 2016, the group announced its intention to acquire InterHealth Nutraceuticals,[3] a leader in research, development, manufacture and marketing of value-added nutritional ingredients for use in dietary supplements. The acquisition of the US based company will be done at a value of up to US$300 million. In December 2016, the company announced it would acquire Capsugel for US$5.5 billion, from private equity firm KKR.[4]

Lonza is involved in the manufacturing of biologics with several pharmaceutical companies. Lonza entered into a partnership with Teva in 2009 to develop and manufacture biosimilars. In 2010, they made a deal with GlaxoSmithKline to manufacture therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. In 2014, Lonza entered into an agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb to manufacture two biologic drugs. Lonza also manufactures Imbruvica for Pharmacyclics and Mydicar for Celladon. In 2015, Lonza contracted with Alexion to construct a new facility dedicated to Alexion manufacturing. In 2017, Lonza and Sanofi partnered to construct a new facility for production of biologics.[5]

Corporate structure

In November of 2019, Chairman Albert Baehny became both chairman and interim CEO of Lonza after chief executive officer (CEO) Marc Funk left after 9 months.[6]

Business operations

As of 2018, Lonza had twenty-four self-described major sites located in the United States, India, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, China, France, South Africa, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom.[7] This site accounting shows significant changes from a 2016 self-description, which listed sixteen major sites.[8] The presence in India was established in Genome Valley, where ground was broken in 2011.[9][10][11]

In 2018, Lonza opened a 300,000 square feet (28,000 m²) facility in the United States in Pearland, Texas (a suburb of Houston).[12] This is one of four sites which are focused on cell and gene therapy, the other three being in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Geleen, Netherlands; and Singapore.[12]

As of 2020, the company has employed over 15,000 people,[13]^:22 across about 35 countries.[13]^:89 By 2018, employment was noted as 14,500 across 120 sites.[12]

References

1. "Annual Results 2019" (PDF).
2. Simonian, Haig (11 July 2011). "Lonza in $1.4bn acquisition of Arch Chemicals". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
3. "Lonza Extends Its Reach in the Healthcare Continuum with Acquisition of InterHealth Nutraceuticals" (Press release). Lonza. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
4. "Lonza Buys Capsugel for $5.5B Cash". Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
5. "Company History". Company Profile. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
6. "Lonza leader Marc Funk quits after just 9 months as CEO". FiercePharma.
7. "Fact Sheet". Company Profile. Lonza. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
8. "Facts". Company Profile. Lonza. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
9. "Lonza to invest Rs 250 cr in Genome Valley". Business Standard. India. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
10. "Lonza Group to set up a bio pharma unit at Genome Valley". ibis. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
11. "Lonza provisionally allotted 30 Acres of land in the "Genome Valley", Hyderabad (India)" (Press release). Lonza. 29 May 2009.
12. Philippidis, Alex (10 April 2018). "Lonza Opens Cell and Gene Therapy Facility in Pearland, TX". GEN News Highlights. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
13. "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Investor Relations. Lonza. Retrieved 2018-04-15.

External links

Media related to Lonza Group at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website