LabCorp‘s Covance business has formed a global immunology and immunotoxicology (I&I) unit dedicated to the specific needs of biologic drug development. 

The company says that this new team brings together Covance’s operational expertise in flow cytometry, immunoassays and cell-based assays with its scientific expertise in immunotoxicology study design, direction and operation to provide a more comprehensive offering for large-molecule drugs.

“With the formation of this team, we continue to demonstrate Covance’s commitment to strengthening our biologics solutions with key investments in scientific staff, technology and facilities,” said John Ratliff, chief executive officer of Covance. “Biologics make up more than one-third of biopharma’s pipeline. Integrating our scientific and operational know-how into a seamless group allows us to deliver even richer scientific insights and faster cycle times for clients’ biologic programs, which helps our clients bring cutting-edge new drugs to patients faster.”

Covance says the new I&I unit’s comprehensive offering also includes a seamless bridge to bioanalysis for use in regulatory submissions and to Covance Phase I clinical research units for first-in-human and first-in-patient studies. As studies progress, the I&I team can complete its unique set of solutions by drawing on additional expertise from Covance’s clinical development and commercialization, translational biomarker, immuno-oncology and central laboratory teams, as well as LabCorp’s specialist scientific and technical capabilities.

In 2017 alone, Covance more than doubled its I&I laboratory footprint, including additional space in three locations and establishing a new innovation laboratory for method development and validation. Staff size has also doubled, driven by an increase in the number of scientists with advanced degrees. Covance’s recent investments in technology and innovation capabilities have enabled the business to further scale production, as well as support the development and implementation of new services within the rapidly growing biologics market.