Pseudo-pharma VC Index signs five year manufacturing deal with Lonza
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
In what may represent another nail in the coffin of the stand-alone biotech company model, pharma-backed venture capitalist Index Ventures has taken an "unusual" step of signing an exclusive agreement with a major contract manufacturing organization to develop and manufacture the biologics of all its portfolio companies. The move, which could be first of many, underlines Index’ asset-based investment approach in which the investor acts, in development at least, as a pseudo-pharmaceutical company.