Sep. 21, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Avid Bioservices, Inc., a leading provider of cGMP contract manufacturing of biologics and other key services, and Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing, today announced that the two companies have entered into a global strategic production alliance agreement. Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, Avid will become an approved member of Boehringer Ingelheim's global Production Alliance Network PAN Biologics(TM).

"With its location on the West Coast of the U.S. and a reputation for quality and innovation, Avid Bioservices is well positioned to play an important role as a strategic partner in our global Production Alliance Network," said Professor Dr. Rolf G. Werner, senior vice president of Boehringer Ingelheim's Corporate Division Biopharmaceuticals. "The Network complements our worldwide strategic manufacturing capabilities with strong regional partners providing process development and clinical supply manufacturing capacity and expertise. We believe this partnership benefits both our partners and our customers, and we look forward to working with the Avid team."

The Production Alliance Network program is set up to provide the partners' customers with a broader range of contract services. The integrated concept offers access to Boehringer Ingelheim's high expression BI HEX(R) technology, Avid's proven competence and flexibility in process development and cGMP manufacturing along with preferred access to Boehringer Ingelheim's large-scale commercial manufacturing facilities. Compatible technology platforms at Avid Bioservices and Boehringer Ingelheim support a flexible approach and will facilitate seamless technology transfers throughout the development, scale-up, clinical and commercial scale production phases.

"With this agreement, Avid joins an elite group of Boehringer Ingelheim strategic biologics manufacturing partners located in biotech clusters around the world," said Christopher Eso, vice president of business operations of Avid Bioservices. "This agreement represents an important element of Avid's overall growth strategy and is a testament to the quality of services the Avid team provides to its clients. We expect it will extend both companies' customer offerings by capitalizing on the distinctive capabilities of each."

Mr. Eso continued, "In fiscal year 2009, Avid increased its production capacity and booked record revenues as a result of a substantial increase in demand for our services. We now look forward to additional growth of our client base through our new relationship with Boehringer Ingelheim."

"We believe this selection as the sole U.S.