AGC Biologics Expands Heidelberg Facility
AGC Biologics is expanding capacities for plasmid DNA (pDNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) at its site in Heidelberg, Germany. The company said in June that it had agreed to supply pDNA to Pfizer/BioNTech for their RNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, manufacturing the ingredient at Heidelberg.
The CDMO will add a GMP manufacturing line, boosting output at both its 100-liter and 1,000-liter capacities for a variety of biologics projects. The expansion includes a new GMP cleanroom for mRNA development and manufacturing, a new process development lab for microbial protein and cell and gene therapy projects, and additional warehouse capacity. The new capacities will be fully operational in 2023.
“This investment helps strengthen our existing pDNA capabilities and supports our entry into the mRNA space,” said CEO Patricio Massera. “With the global pDNA and mRNA markets experiencing record growth, we are focused on ensuring our facilities worldwide offer innovative services that meet the needs of therapeutics developers.”
The announcement is the latest in a series of investments AGC Biologics is making this year to expand its offerings and global footprint. In August, the company broke ground on a new multipurpose facility in Copenhagen, Denmark, and also finalized its purchase of a facility in Longmont, Colorado, USA, for cell and gene therapy activities.
In March, AGC disclosed plans to expand its cell and gene therapy facility in Milan, Italy, with the additional facilities due to go into full operation in 2022.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
