DSM Pharmaceutical Products, a custom manufacturing and technology business of Royal DSM, has signed a biologics contract manufacturing agreement with its first Brazilian client, Recepta Biopharma, a Sao Paulo-based biotechnology company focused on monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer.

"This manufacturing agreement with DSM moves us one step closer to serving patient needs for this important medical treatment,” said Jose Fernando Perez, CEO of Recepta Biopharma. “We are delighted to strengthen our global network of innovation to bring our new monoclonal antibodies to the market."

The contract covers the process development and cGMP manufacture by DSM of one of Recepta's lead antibodies at its facilities based in Groningen, The Netherlands. DSM started production to supply drug substance materials to be used in the initial clinical trials of this antibody beginning in May of 2012.

"We have developed a productive partnership throughout the course of this project and we are confident that the research that Recepta has carried out to date will be successfully implemented by the industry leading expertise of DSM's team,” said Karen King, president of DSM Biologics.

The project also represents DSM Biologics’ first agreement in the high growth South American market place.

"Working with Recepta in Brazil marks further advancement of DSM's stated strategy to grow its presence in high growth economies such as Brazil and South America,” said Alexander Wessels, CEO of DSM Pharmaceutical Products.

Financial terms were not disclosed.