Avecia. Just parking a couple of old PRs, as I note they are recruiting for the new facility.
28 February 2002
Avecia Announces US $100 million Biologics Manufacturing Investment
Avecia today announced a US $100m (£70m) investment programme to build one of the world’s most advanced biologics medicines manufacturing facilities. The investment, at Billingham UK, will create 40,000 litres of contract manufacturing capacity for microbially-derived biologics. The first stage is due on stream in 2003 and, on completion in 2005, it will be the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the world.
The project is a major step in Avecia’s high-growth strategy to generate US $500m (£350m) fine chemicals sector sales by 2005, and for which its biotechnology and pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing businesses are two key drivers.
The project will generate up to 300 new, science-based jobs and further strengthen the importance of the North of England as a UK centre of excellence in biomanufacturing. The investment is expected to create several hundred additional jobs in plant construction, allied and support services.
Biologics are a new generation of medicines, based on natural proteins. They offer improved ways to treat life threatening diseases - such as forms of cancer, diabetes and heart conditions.
Largest investment:
"This is Avecia’s largest single investment since its formation, in mid-1999", commented Avecia vice president for Biotechnology Dr. Kevin Cox. "It will firmly establish Avecia as a global leader in biologics contract manufacturing, with integrated capability on a single site for development, trials and large-scale manufacturing to cGMP standards".
He continued: "The development also reinforces our position as a contract manufacturing partner of choice for the biotechnology industry - complementing our world-leading position in DNA medicines".
Noting that the UK is already Europe’s leader in biotechnology research, Dr. Cox said: "Avecia’s large scale biologics manufacturing facility at Billingham will now establish the UK as a centre for biomanufacturing in Europe".
"Biotechnology is one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries and our new facility at Billingham will also act as a catalyst for growth and development in Northern England of complementary businesses, services and additional biotechnology investments".
Rising demand:
Biologics account for over 20% of all new drug approvals and there are currently over 250 microbially-derived biologic medicines in clinical trials.
Biologics manufacturing is set to continue as one of the fastest growing sectors in fine chemicals. Current capacity is close to full utilization and healthcare industry demand for contract manufacturing of biologics is forecast to more than double - to over US $700m (approx. £500m) - by 2005.
Programme & timing:
The first phase of Avecia’s biologics investment will comprise two 5,000 litre capacity fermentation streams. Each will have independent harvesting and purification suites, giving maximum flexibility to offer multi-product manufacturing. With plant construction starting shortly, first commercial production is due to begin in 2003.
A second phase development will add two 15,000 litre capacity fermenters and their associated purification streams. Scheduled in-service date is 2005, and the completed facility will be able to run four large-scale manufacturing campaigns simultaneously.
The programme is being engineered, procured and project managed by WS Atkins Plc - one of the world’s leading providers of professional knowledge-based consultancy and support services. Architectural services are being provided by Clean Design Ltd. of Stockton.
Extending capabilities:
The investment programme complements Avecia’s existing Advanced Biologics Centre (ABC) at Billingham, opened in 1998, which produces protein-based vaccines and new medicines for early clinical trials, on scales of up to 1,000 litres.
Noting the benefits for Avecia’s customers, Dr. Cox concluded: “The new facilities will enable seamless transfer of early clinical trials campaigns from our ABC facility to larger scale manufacturing for late clinical trials, product launch and long term supply. This will save customers the time, cost and complexity of transferring manufacturing campaigns between different suppliers or sites”.
27 May 2002
Avecia Biotechnology Expands into Mammalian Cell Culture
In a strategic extension to its biotechnology portfolio, Avecia today announced a first stage investment in mammalian cell culture. The company is to create a state-of-the-art cell and tissue culture development suite at its Biologics centre in Billingham, UK.
The move complements Avecia’s large scale capabilities in microbial fermentation, and builds on its strengths in bioprocess creation and development services.
By exploiting the synergies between microbial and mammalian development and manufacturing technologies - especially in molecular biology, separation, purification and analytical sciences - Avecia expects to deliver customer benefits in mammalian process productivity and cost-of-goods.
Due on stream in July 2002, the mammalian cell culture suite will focus on bioprocess development for therapeutic proteins including monoclonal antibodies and non-GMP manufacture up to 100 litre scale. Plans for a cGMP cell culture pilot facility, to manufacture materials for Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, are also well advanced.
Technological advancement in mammalian cell capability through a combination of internal development, collaboration and in-licensing – so offering customers real productivity benefits - is a key part of Avecia’s strategy to build a world leading biotechnology business.
“By applying our deep knowledge in development of cell-based technologies, we will be able to deliver substantial productivity and cost-of-goods benefits to our customers requiring cell culture-derived therapeutics”, said Dr. Kevin Cox, Vice President - Avecia Biotechnology. “In responding to our customers needs in this way, we are further strengthening our biologics development services with initial emphasis on process and manufacturing productivity gains”.
The suite will enable Avecia to apply its widely-recognised development expertise to a wide range of client programmes. These could include establishing a complete development programme from a client’s gene sequence or cell line, through to optimising and validating a client’s existing process to support robust cGMP manufacture.
Avecia’s strategic extension into mammalian cell-culture follows the company’s recent announcement of a US $100m investment in 40,000 litres of new capacity for microbially-derived biologics. Commercial production is due to begin in 2003 and, on full completion in 2005, the facility will be the largest of its kind in the world. |
