PR83892

SAN DIEGO, May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services ("Aji Bio-Pharma"), a leading provider of

biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services, is pleased

to announce it has entered into a manufacturing services agreement with CytoDyn

Inc., a late stage biotechnology company, for the supply of the investigational

new drug, leronlimab (PRO 140), which is currently being used in clinical trial

protocols for Mild-to-Moderately Ill and Severely Ill COVID-19 patients.

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Aji Bio-Pharma provides high quality drug product aseptic fill finish services

for CytoDyn. Leronlimab, a novel CCR5 antagonist with the potential for

multiple therapeutic indications, has been and is currently being administered

to COVID-19 patients at New York City area hospitals as part of an emergency

investigational new drug (EIND), granted by the U.S. Federal Drug

Administration (FDA) as part of Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 2b/3 clinical

trials. CytoDyn is currently enrolling patients in two placebo-controlled

randomized clinical trials for Phase 2 and Phase 2b/3.

"We are very excited to support CytoDyn's efforts to utilize this promising

antibody therapeutic in the fight against COVID-19," said Kristin DeFife,

Ph.D., Sr. VP of Operations & Site Head at Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services. "This

partnership reinforces our company's mission to improve the health of humankind

and underscores our vision statement being a leading, trusted, innovative

partner to our clients and our people."

"We are extremely pleased to already have been collaborating with Aji

Bio-Pharma for the production of leronlimab for other therapeutic indications,

allowing us to quickly provide this therapeutic to COVID-19 patients in

clinical trials," said Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., President and CEO of CytoDyn.

"Aji Bio-Pharma's drug product experience, infrastructure and strong regulatory

track record were important to this partnership and in the timely supply of

this therapeutic."

About Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a fully integrated contract development and

manufacturing organization with sites in Belgium, United States, Japan, and

India, providing comprehensive development, cGMP manufacturing, and aseptic

fill finish services for small and large molecule APIs and intermediates.

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services offers a broad range of innovative platforms and

capabilities for pre-clinical and pilot programs to commercial quantities,

including Corynex(R) protein expression technology, oligonucleotide synthesis,

antibody drug conjugations (ADC), high potency APIs (HPAPI), biocatalysis,

continuous flow manufacturing and more. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is

dedicated to providing a high level of quality and service to meet our client's

needs. Learn more: www.AjiBio-Pharma.com

SOURCE: Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

CONTACT: info@us.ajibio-pharma.com