- Willow Biosciences and Laurus Labs enter a development and licensing partnership for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
- The collaboration is set to commercialize seven high-value APIs, including corticosteroid programs, with expected commercial manufacture in 2025.
Willow Biosciences Inc. (Willow), a biotechnology company, has announced a significant partnership with Laurus Labs, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology firm. The alliance focuses on the development and licensing of high-value APIs using Willow’s AI-driven bioengineering platform.
The strategic partnership includes an initial set of seven advanced intermediates and APIs, emphasizing Willow’s corticosteroid programs. The collaboration marks the largest agreement Willow has signed, with the first programs anticipated to reach commercial manufacture by 2025.
Under the terms of the agreement, Willow is set to receive substantial annual revenues from research and development efforts and royalties, including a guaranteed $4.0 million in research & development payments in the first year. Following the commercialization of the APIs, Willow will earn annual royalties based on global sales.
Laurus Labs has acknowledged the importance of adopting more sustainable manufacturing methods for its APIs to reduce costs and waste. The company has chosen Willow’s expertise, particularly its AI-driven BioOxi platform, to develop transformative bioprocesses for key APIs. This partnership will commence with the optimization and scaling of Willow’s BioOxi platform and the development of new processes for targets within Laurus’ API and ingredient portfolios.
Dr. Chris Savile, President & CEO of Willow, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to be partnering with Laurus Labs, one of the most respected and established pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers in the world. This strategic partnership is the culmination of Willow’s new focus on pharmaceutical ingredients and investment over the past two years.”
The CEO of Laurus Labs, Dr. Satyanarayana Chava, commented on the collaboration, “Willow has demonstrated through its bioengineering technology platform a unique capability to significantly reduce the cost of API production while enabling greater product availability. We look forward to a long and successful partnership, which we believe will further strengthen Laurus’ strong reputation for market innovation.”
This multi-product agreement adds both near-term R&D and long-term commercial potential to Willow’s already robust pipeline of opportunities in food, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
Overview of outsourcing trends 
