SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 3, 2023 /CNW/ - Willow Biosciences Inc., ("Willow") (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQB: CANSF) and SUANFARMA today jointly announced execution of a collaboration agreement for a cell line productivity optimization development program for manufacturing a large volume anti-infective Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ("API") through precision fermentation. Through the partnership, SUANFARMA will have access to Willow's proprietary strain optimization technologies to develop a more cost-effective production process.

SUANFARMA has engaged Willow to apply its strain engineering technology platform to enable more cost-effective commercial production of the API at SUANFARMA's manufacturing site.

"We are pleased to further expand our successful relationship with SUANFARMA, to bring sustainably sourced products to market by leveraging our joint capabilities and their proven efficient manufacturing resources," said Chris Savile, Willow's President & CEO. "Together, we see a number of opportunities to create alternative means to more sustainably produce key products for better human health and wellness and we look forward to working with the SUANFARMA team."

"SUANFARMA CDMO is delighted to further extend our partnership with Willow toward developing commercial products to broaden our portfolio by maximizing product quality at reduced cost through fermentation technology," said Daniel Rivero, Industrial Director of SUANFARMA. "Following successful development, we look forward to bringing these life-enhancing products to market at industrial scale through our manufacturing site in Europe. SUANFARMA CDMO provides Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization services to the market, with solid track record and expertise in fermentation, purification and chemical synthesis technologies under the highest standards of quality for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry."

SUANFARMA CDMO offers a comprehensive approach to Technology Transfer, aiming to reduce risks and enhance success within their global project management strategy. Our platform, known as TT&GO®, employs a systematic and quality-based methodology that leverages our expertise in GMP manufacturing. This approach ensures efficient industrialization of processes and thus swift market commercialization of the final product.

In March 2023, Willow and SUANFARMA announced an alliance with the intention to work together on existing pharma and biotechnological capabilities for synthetic molecules including anti-infectives and other APIs and intermediates for Pharma and natural ingredients designed for the Health & Wellness and Food & Beverage industries. Today's announcement marks further progress in broadening the relationship by offering an end-to-end synthetic biology solution and expanding the parties' joint product portfolio.

Willow develops and produces precision fermented functional ingredients for the health and wellness, food and beverage and personal care markets. Willow's FutureGrown™ and BioOxi™ platforms enable large-scale production with sustainability at its core. Willow's R&D team has a proven track record of developing and commercializing bio-based manufacturing processes and products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers. For more information, visit www.willowbio.com.

SUANFARMA founded in 1993, is a B2B life science partner specialized in the development, production, and commercialization of ingredients for the pharmaceutical, veterinary and nutraceutical industries.

All facilities comply with the highest existing regulations in the pharmaceutical industry. With the support of a consolidated and strong commercial network with 12 local offices placed strategically around the world, SUANFARMA provides its services to more than 3,000 active customers in over 70 countries.

SUANFARMA CDMO is a leading provider of CDMO services and products, and it has an expert team of professionals in charge of managing the challenge of the complete process for developing, scaling, and manufacturing small molecule APIs both by fermentation and by chemical synthesis. We become a trusted innovative partner providing integrated, real end-to-end solutions and competitive advantages for our customers to meet their challenges and market access. This is achieved through two main axes: supply chain and value chain solutions.

More information: https://www.suanfarma.com/en/suanfarma-cdmo /

FutureGrown™ and BioOxi^TM are registered trademarks of Willow Biosciences Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates and the assessment of future plans and operations of the companies, and, more particularly, statements concerning: intentions to broaden the relationship between the two companies by offering an end-to-end synthetic biology solution and expanding their joint product portfolio and scaling production; and the business plan of the companies, generally. When used in this news release, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the companies which include, but are not limited to: the success of strategic partnerships; the ability to obtain and retain applicable licences; the ability to obtain suitable manufacturing partners and other strategic relationships; and the successful implementation of the companies' commercialization and production strategy, generally. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties, and although the companies believe that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of important factors could cause actual results biotechnology industry in general; the success of research and development strategies; infringement on intellectual property; failure to benefit from partnerships or successfully integrate acquisitions; actions and initiatives of federal, state and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies; import/export and research restrictions for operations;; competition from other industry participants; adverse U.S., Canadian and global economic conditions; adverse global events and public-health crises, including the evolving COVID-19 outbreak; failure to comply with certain regulations; departure of key management personnel or inability to attract and retain talent; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by Willow with securities regulatory authorities. Please refer to Willow's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for additional risk factors relating to Willow, which can be accessed either on Willow's website at www.willowbio.com or under Willow's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the companies do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.