BPI Theater Interview: Steve Lavezoli, Vice President of Biologics, Curia Global

Curia Global (formerly AMRI) acquired Integrity Bio and LakePharma in 2021 to boost its CDMO business. Lavezoli discussed the formation of Curia’s biologics division and future developments. He said that the LakePharma acquisition aided Curia’s large-molecule expansion by providing discovery and manufacturing facilities. Curia’s capabilities are fully integrated, and one of the company’s next big steps is to inform the industry of its readiness to provide end-to-end services, including discovery, process development, and manufacturing.

The TunaCHO technology platform is a proprietary cell line that has enabled the team in San Carlos, CA, to maximize expression titers. That team understands what clients are seeking and performs a number of tasks, from gene sequencing through cell-line development. Curia offers competitive royalty fees for its work, especially when programs are carried through to the company’s GMP manufacturing site in Hopkinton, MA. That site is certified to produce mRNA, therapeutic antibodies, and protein therapeutics and vaccines. It has space for further expansion in case the company pursues new modalities in the future such as antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).

Lavezoli emphasized the value of partnerships and in listening to its clients rather than pushing them toward a specific platform. “We’re going to listen to what they’re looking for. Based on what we hear, we’re going to try to figure out the right platform for the client.” He added, “We need to be a partner dependent upon what the client’s looking for. They guide us, and then we give them our expertise based on that knowledge platform.” He noted that clients are the experts in their indications and that Curia thrives on developing and optimizing processes that are based on conversations with them.

Lavezoli said that the easiest way to understand what sets Curia apart from other CDMOs is to tour the facilities: “You have to walk in the halls of the Hopkinton site, walk in the halls of San Carlos, and take a look at our drug-product site, get to know the people, and see how engaged they are with these programs.” He said that clients often seek a way to carry their products through clinical trials and often struggle to position their investigational new drugs (INDs) for approval.

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