The new facility is also expected to support the future production of additional cell therapies as Bayer's cell therapy portfolio continues to grow, the company said.

The new facility, in which Bayer says it has invested $250 million, is also expected to support future production of other cell therapies as the German healthcare and agrochemicals giant‘s cell therapy portfolio continues to grow. It is part of a transformation at the company’s dedicated biotechnology site in Berkeley, California, where Bayer has invested around $500 million over the past five years.

“This new facility ensures our investment in cell therapies can become a reality for patients around the world,” said Stefan Oelrich, member of Bayer’s managing board and president of the company’s Pharmaceuticals division. “Cell therapies represent an important opportunity to treat diseases differently by targeting the underlying cause or enabling the human body to restore vital functions,” Oelrich added.

“Manufacturing is an important element in taking the biopharmaceutical sector’s pipeline of cell and gene therapies from the laboratory to patients, and this facility enables Bayer to play a critical role in making that happen,” said Holger Weintritt, executive committee member and head of product supply of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals division.

Seth Ettenberg, president and CEO of BlueRock Therapeutics, commented: “Having access to this new cell therapy manufacturing facility is important to deliver impactful cell therapies from our development portfolio to patients in need.”