Bioprocessing

Amgen is initiating a $200 million expansion of its campus in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. The project includes construction of a 126,000-sf building extension, a new production plant, an expanded warehouse, and extensive refurbishment of the existing buildings. In addition, a significant research and development investment will also see the Dun Laoghaire facility undergo a major technology process enhancement to transform the plant into one of the leading biotechnology manufacturing sites in the world.

Baxter International will begin construction in 2012 on a $1 billion biologics manufacturing complex in Atlanta. Accommodating over 1,500 employees, the facility will support the creation of advanced plasma-based therapeutics. Commercial production is expected to begin in 2018.

Valent BioSciences Corporation broke ground on a $146 million biorational manufacturing facility in March of 2012 in Osage, Iowa. Biorationals are products derived from natural or biological origins that are highly specific in their activity and have low impact on workers and the environment. The biorational industry has achieved steady growth in agriculture as awareness about needs for sustainable solutions in food production and distribution has increased.

AllCells opened its new bioprocessing center in Shanghai in September of 2011. Located in Ju Ke Park, the 10,000-sf facility houses GMP cell culture rooms, labs, offices, and production space. 

Promega will break ground on a cGMP manufacturing facility in September of 2011 in Fitchburg, Wis. The 260,000-sf building will support production of molecular biology products including reagents and sample preparation solutions. The main facility was designed by Uihlein-Wilson Architects of Milwaukee and the cGMP facility was designed by EwingCole of Philadelphia. Archemy Consulting of Vancouver, B.C., is providing design integration services and sustainable design consultation.

NanoSonic Products opened its new cGMP manufacturing facility in July of 2011 in Alachua, Fla. The renovated and expanded building will support the production of cyclodextrin by NanoSonic's proprietary pulse drying process. All of the facility's energy requirements will be met by photovoltaic panels. The technologies and systems used in the manufacturing process are designed for maximum energy efficiency.

Isogenica completed construction of a new pharmaceutical automation facility in July of 2011. Located in the Chesterford Research Park in the United Kingdom, the plant will house a high throughput CIS display platform, liquid handling robots, and screening equipment. The facility will produce advanced biopharmaceutical therapeutics.

SANYO North America Corporation Biomedical Solutions Division and BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), have announced a strategic agreement to jointly promote cutting-edge life science research tools designed to advance cell culture and cell therapy research. The goals of this collaboration are to develop long-term and short-term co-marketing programs, as well as to research innovative ways to combine product technologies and offerings to serve both current and untapped market applications.

MSD (Merck Sharp Dohme) opened the Bioassay Centre of Expertise and the Pneumococcal Vaccine Conjugation Facility in June of 2011 in Brinny, Ireland. The facilities represent an investment of $41 million and will support the development, commercialization, and manufacture of vaccines and protein-based therapeutics.

Sanofi Pasteur opened a $101 million bioprocessing research and development facility on its Connaught Campus in Toronto in June of 2011. The project represents the establishment of Sanofi Pasteur's North American Centre of Excellence in Analytical and Bioprocessing Research and Development. The facility is known as Building 95 and will support advanced vaccine development and production.

Novartis broke ground in June of 2011 on a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. Part of a five-year, $500 million investment, the facility will utilize advanced technologies to produce innovative therapeutics and generics. Completion is expected in 2014.

The University of Illinois's Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) opened its newly renovated Bioprocessing Laboratory in June of 2011 in Urbana. The 2,500-sf facility will support biofuel and biochemical research, development, and production. Future plans include the addition of biomass processing equipment.

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is expanding its bioprocessing facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., with the addition of a 1,000L Xcellerex single-use bioreactor. The project will enable Fujifilm Diosynth to increase its cell culture production capacity. The single-use bioreactor will provide flexibility of scale for the manufacture of therapeutics for preclinical and clinical research. The expansion is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2012.

Lonza will expand its Singapore biomanufacturing campus in the Tuas Biomedical Park with the addition of 21,528 sf of laboratory space. The $11.3 million expansion will support cell line development, processing, and analytical services. Completion is expected in 2012. Lonza is a life sciences company based in Switzerland.

Almac Group opened its $120 million North American headquarters and production facility in May of 2011. Located in Souderton, Pa., the 240,000-sf complex includes a three-story, 74,500-sf office building and a 165,600-sf facility for the production, analysis, and distribution of clinical trial supplies. The project team included Francis Cauffman Architects, Skanska USA Building, Genesis Engineering, and Barry Isett & Associates. Construction began in July of 2008.