With the expansion, one 50-liter, two 200-liter, and two 1,000-liter suspension single-use bioreactors were added, and up to four iCellis500 single-use bioreactors can be used for GMP-compliant viral vector production. In addition, the project included the build-out of more process development lab space, a new automated filling line and the addition of a new fully dedicated 1,000 m² warehouse space, ACG Biologics said.

Luca Alberici, general manager of AGC Biologics Milan, commented: “Thanks to this expansion we have the flexibility to support companies from clinical to commercial stages for in-vivo end ex-vivo gene therapy applications and can manufacture adeno-associated and lentiviral vectors from medium 50-liter scales to as large as 2,000 liters. When you combine this with our development, analytical and fill/finish services, this site can offer cell and gene developers any type of support they need throughout their product’s lifecycle.”

AGC Biologics acquired the Milan site to launch its cell and gene business in July 2020. Since then, it has been the global center for the company's cell and gene therapy services.