Biopharmaceutical and biotech CDMO Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has inaugurated a state-of-the-art microbial manufacturing facility in Billingham, UK. The company says the new facility will enhance its large-scale microbial production capabilities, strengthen its global manufacturing network, and support its commitment to delivering advanced biologics production solutions of microbial-based therapies and critical biologics.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a world leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics, vaccines, advanced therapies, and oncolytic viruses, today hosted a celebration for the opening of its microbial fermentation manufacturing facility in Billingham. This new facility triples existing microbial production throughput with the addition of a new production line equipped with 2 X 4000 L fermenters, primary separations suite and a modular purification suite with an investment over 100 million GBP.

To support further expansion, the facility is built with the flexibility to accommodate new projects to meet the emerging needs of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ partners, and to provide supply chain resilience.

This expansion was customized, in part, to support a large pharmaceutical partner with a highly specialized ophthalmic therapeutic for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Wet AMD is an eye disorder that causes blurred vision in the central vision. AMD is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting more than 700,000 people, with 39,800 patients developing ‘wet’ AMD each year.

“With the completion of this project, we are fulfilling our commitment with our partner, and supporting the commercialization of its ophthalmic therapeutic,” said Lars Petersen, president and CEO, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. “This is a prime example of our partnership-based business model, a key element in our Partners for Life strategy, to help our customers bring their life-impacting medicines to patients.”

“Sight loss is devastating for the quality of life, and the confidence, of those who suffer from it. The specialised therapeutics that will be made at Billingham, thanks to this investment, could eventually help thousands of people who suffer from wet age-related macular degeneration,” said Science Minister Lord Vallance. “This news is also proof of the economic value of our life sciences clusters – pulling investment into places like Teesside, and building on the world-class expertise that is already in the area.”

“Securing capacity in strategic locations to support our customers’ needs now and in the future is a key element of our Partners for Life strategy,” said Kenneth Bilenberg, chief operating officer, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. “Today’s celebration underscores our commitment to our BioCampus in Billingham where we are progressing on expansions for our Process Development and Quality labs as well as an expansion focusing on late stage clinical and commercial cell culture drug substance manufacturing.”

“Our broad capabilities in microbial process development and commercial manufacture, the depth of our experience, and our innovative and proprietary technologies and systems, such as the Paveway™ PLUS expression systems[2], are crucial to ensure that we are able to support the short-and-long term needs of our partners to ensure a secure supply to advance clinical trials, and bring patient medicines to market,” said Jonathan Haigh, site head, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, UK.

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