The advancing research and development in the field of gene therapy over recent years has led to a tremendous rise in demand for viral vectors. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies expands their presence in the emerging sector with the announced plans of a new $40 Million viral vector & advanced therapy facility.
Fujifilm has long shown interest in the wellbeing of the healthcare sector. The company has felt it’s their prime responsibility to serve the globe. Fujifilm continues to remain profitable in recent years through their rigorous growth and hard work. The investment of $40 Million in Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) for biologics, viral vaccines, and viral vectors.
In 2014, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies commenced its work in the sector of viral vectors. This was followed by an investment of additional $120 Million to establish a manufacturing unit of the viral vector was at a U.K. site.
Recent research and development done for gene therapy has made immense growth in manufacturing capabilities. Eventually, this lead to the grabbing of potential investors from all fields of biopharma. In January 2020, Ohio strategically disclosed the plan to construct a commercial site for the manufacturing of gene therapy. The site is named Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) with a seat being reserved by Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies on the board of this organization called Advanced Biological Innovation and Manufacturing.
Fujifilm hopes to answer the sudden demand for viral vectors. The investment of Novartis and Pfizer were ramped up in gene therapy manufacturing last year. Other contract manufacturers include Catalent and Thermo.
Fisher Scientific have also decided to expand their operations which solely support gene therapy’s research and development. Fujifilm expects to start offering contract manufacturing for early-stage clinical trials of therapies that use viral vectors in the fall of 2023.
For the reason of viral vectors and advanced therapies, Fujifilm has launched not only new process development but also a manufacturing facility. This shows the Corporate Social Responsibility they have towards society and other needy people.
The total investment of $40 Million is done to set up the manufacturing unit in Watertown, Massachusetts. The location of the new facility is there at the greater Boston area as disclosed by Martin Meeson, the CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. The company decided to invest this large sum of money in part because of the global revenue Fujifilm had in the year 2020. The company ensures that with this manufacturing facility they can add progress in the healthcare sector, especially in viral vectors. Fujifilm has shared the schedule for the commencement of operation in the year 2021 and on the other hand the services of the contract manufacturing facility by the end of the year 2023.
Fujifilm claims these 2 projects to be one of the biggest investments to date ever done in the healthcare sector. The company proudly states that this manufacturing unit for viral vectors is the third in number apart from Texas and the UK.
The wide range of abilities lies in Fujifilm’s CDMO, which starts with the process development for numerous biopharmaceutical like that of antibodies, oncolytic virus, gene therapy, recombinant protein, and many more.
“The strength of Fujifilm’s Bio CDMO business lies in its wide range of capabilities: process development for a variety of biopharmaceutical such as antibodies, recombinant protein, gene therapy, vaccines, oncolytic virus and more, along with flexible facilities that can adapt to small- or large-scale manufacturing of drug substances, formulation, and packaging,” noted Takatoshi Ishikawa, senior executive vice president, and chief life science officer, Fujifilm.
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has spread its locations in Teesside, UK, RTP, North Carolina, College Station, Texas and Hilleroad. With the hard work and great level of perseverance, they have 30 years of experience in recombinant proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, among other large molecules, viral products, and medical countermeasures expressed in a wide array of microbial, mammalian, and host/virus systems.