WuXi AppTec opens new biomanufacturing facility at Philadelphia for cell and gene therapies

WuXi AppTec, a leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device technology platform company, has unveiled new 150,000 square foot biomanufacturing facility in an event attended by Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack and WuXi AppTec chairman and chief executive officer, Dr. Ge Li.




The new facility is WuXi AppTec’s third facility in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. When fully configured, the facility could employ an additional 200 manufacturing and support staff.

“The expansion by WuXi AppTec continues the growth of the Philadelphia Navy Yard as a hub for biotechnology and cell and gene therapy. It means workers in STEM fields will have more employment opportunities here. The commitment shown by a global pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing firms such as WuXi also demonstrates that Philadelphia and Pennsylvania are good places for science and technology firms to do business. We look forward to working with WuXi on future expansions.” said Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack. how to be a pharmaceutical sales rep

This facility is designed for cell therapy products that utilize viral vectors such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell) therapies. In addition, the facility will permit expansion of viral vector manufacturing to support gene therapy clinical and commercial programs and will permit large scale production in 2,000L single-use bioreactors. The new facility will supplement WuXi's existing 20,000-square-foot cGMP cell therapy manufacturing facility, as well as a 50,000-square-foot facility for the commercial manufacturing of allogeneic and autologous cell-based therapeutics. WuXi's 220,000 square feet of total manufacturing capacity in the US expands its ability to be a single-source for process development, clinical and commercial cGMP manufacturing, and analytical testing to support the rapidly growing cellular therapeutic and gene therapy industry's unique requirements.

"Advanced therapies like CAR T-cells and gene therapy vectors offer significant new therapeutic options for cancer patients and those suffering from crippling genetic diseases. We are pleased to be the forefront of this field, providing our partners with cutting-edge cGMP manufacturing capabilities and capacities," said Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec.

“We are proud to be an integral part of the biotech hub in the Navy Yard and an important center for the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies here in Philadelphia. With the capacity and capabilities we now have available, we can provide the integrated clinical and commercial manufacturing solutions needed by our cell and gene therapy customers,” said Felix Hsu, senior vice president of WuXi AppTec’s US Business Unit.




Source: http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=97989&sid=2