Lonza and Stason Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they signed an agreement granting Stason a world-wide non-exclusive license to use Lonza's GS (glutamine synthetase) Gene Expression System.

The agreement allows Stason to use, develop, market, sell, offer for sale, distribute, import and export products based on the TNT (Tissue Necrosis Therapy) technologies. The agreement also allows Stason to sell TNT products in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) territories with their strategic partners. This license enables Stason to use Lonza's proprietary GS System and Stonsa’s TNT technologies to manufacture and commercialize innovative therapeutic and diagnostic products based on chimeric and fully human TNT monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs). Stonsa Biopharm, Inc., a strategic partner of Stason, is the principal sub-licensee of the TNT and GS System technologies.

The TNT technology platform uses recombinant mAbs to target intracellular antigens in dead or dying (necrotic) tissues. These technologies have demonstrated a broad-spectrum therapeutic and diagnostic potential in solid tumours, including brain, lung, colon, breast, liver, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Cotara, a chimeric TNT monoclonal antibody conjugated with a radioisotope Iodine-131 is currently being evaluated in phase I and II clinical trials in the US and India for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the deadliest form of brain cancer. Cotara had been also tested in conjunction with intravenous treatment of advanced colon cancer in a phase I clinical trial at Stanford University and radio-ablation therapy in a phase I trial at the Mayo Clinic.

Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Products and services span its customers’ needs from research to final product manufacture. It is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bio-products which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. In addition, Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.

Stason Pharmaceuticals, Inc., established in 1994 and based in Irvine, CA is a privately-held, global pharmaceutical company involved in drug development, manufacturing, importation/exportation, licensing and marketing of both generic and branded products. The company's primary area of development is in the area of oncology, and supportive products for the treatment of side effects related to cancer therapy. Additional therapeutic areas include cardiovascular, central nervous system, autoimmune and endocrine disorders.

Stonsa Biopharm, Inc., is a new spin-off biopharmaceutical company, based in Southern California and formed in strategic partnership with Stason Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (USA) and Standard Chem. & Pharm. Co., LTD. (Taiwan) to focus on developing and commercializing TNT technologies worldwide.

The GS Gene Expression System, which is owned and licensed by Lonza, is used for the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies. Nearly 100 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and over 75 academic laboratories worldwide are successfully using the GS Gene Expression System, which has established itself as the industry standard. This system is characterized by its speed and ease of use. In addition, the higher yielding cell lines provide cost-efficient production of therapeutic proteins.

The TNT technology platform consists of chimeric and fully human recombinant monoclonal antibodies linked to radioactive isotopes. These targeting agents are designed to bind to the DNA/histone complexes exposed by dead and dying cells found in various lesions, including the necrotic centre of solid tumours, and deliver their radioactive payload to the targeted site, with minimal radiation exposure to healthy tissues.