Fujifilm Opens New $9-Million Cell Culture Labs in UK
The new 10,000 ft2 of laboratories will be dedicated to the company’s monoclonal antibody platform, which enables rapid access to development and manufacturing capacity.
On Sep. 12, 2017, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (BioCDMO), announced the opening of its new 10,000-ft2 cell culture Process Development Laboratories in Wilton Centre, Teesside in the United Kingdom. The laboratories were built through a JPY 1-billion (US$9-million) investment, part of a greater JPY 14-billion (US$130-million) expansion announced by Fujifilm Corporation in April 2017.
The new laboratories will be dedicated to supporting activities in the Saturn mAb [monoclonal antibody] Platform. The Saturn mAb Platform is designed to enable rapid access to process development and manufacturing capacity.
“These laboratories are designed to incorporate the latest high-throughput technologies, including fully automated high throughput bioreactors and chromatography systems,” said Andy Topping, CEO, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, in a company press release.
A grant from Let’s Grow, part of the UK government’s Regional Growth Fund, also contributed to the overall investment of the BioCDMO’s continued growth in the Tees Valley. The new facility will bring new sustainable, high-tech jobs to the region.
