Thermo Fisher Scientific Opens $90-Million Viral Vector Manufacturing Site in Massachusetts

On Dec. 4, 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, officially opened its new $90-million viral vector contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) site in Lexington, MA. The new 50,000-ft2 facility will add more than 200 jobs and support the development, testing, and manufacture of viral vectors, critical components of gene and cell therapies.

The Lexington viral vector CDMO site will be supported by a diverse workforce of scientists, quality control specialists, and production teams, the company stated in a press release. The facility will be GMP-compliant and will house state-of-the-art laboratory services to produce, test, and manufacture viral vectors.

"Thermo Fisher's investment in both the regional economic development of the Commonwealth and its commitment to furthering STEM education for young women will well serve Massachusetts and its communities," said Governor Charlie Baker in the company press release. "We look forward to working together to continue to build upon and strengthen the state's role as a global leader in innovation."

Earlier this year, Thermo Fisher completed the acquisition of Brammer Bio, a viral vector CDMO. The new Lexington site provides much-needed capacity for viral vector development and manufacturing, which to date has been a bottleneck for biotech companies, according to Thermo Fisher. This investment is part of a larger strategy to accelerate commercialization of new therapies by providing a range of services-from drug development through clinical trials to commercial manufacturing-to support pharma and biotech companies of all sizes.

"The demand for new gene therapies has outpaced capacity, and we're in a unique position to partner with our customers to help them accelerate development and production of medicines that will ultimately benefit patients suffering from rare diseases," said Michel Lagarde, executive vice-president of Thermo Fisher Scientific, in the press release. "We're also excited to create 200 new jobs that support the thriving biotech industry in Massachusetts."

Source: Thermo Fisher Scientific