Bioprocessing

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.

Samsung broke ground in late May of 2011 on a $305 million biologics manufacturing plant in Incheon, Korea. The 274,000-sf complex will include a 30,000-litre cell culture vat and a laboratory for pharmaceutical and biosimilar research and development. Construction is expected to reach completion in 2012 with production commencing in early 2013. The biologics manufacturing plant will comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) protocols.

BioStorage Technologies opened a 60,000-sf biorepository in Indianapolis in May of 2011. The $4.6 million facility will support the preparation, storage, and transport of human biological samples. The biorepository features automated liquid handling technology for high-throughput DNA and RNA extraction and verification.

Stemnion completed construction of two Class 10,000 cleanrooms in May of 2011. Located in Clearwater, Fla., the project is a stand-alone modular facility for the production of regenerative medicine therapies. The cleanrooms were designed and built by HWI Global in collaboration with Turner Construction Company.

Allosource broke ground in May of 2011 on a expansion and renovation of its facilities in Centennial, Colo. Providing labs, cleanrooms, offices, testing suites, conference rooms, and medical training space, the project will enable Allosource to consolidate its operations in a single location. The facility was designed by Intergroup Architects with The Weitz Company as general contractor. Completion of the new facility is expected in spring of 2012 with existing facility renovations concluding in fall of 2012.

Morphotek is building an $80 million bioprocessing plant in Exton, Pa. The 60,000-sf facility will house a biologics plant, cGMP cell culture, cleanrooms, production suites, labs, and offices. The building features corridors with transparent walls for maximum visibility of production processes. Precis Engineering is providing MEP and process engineering and commissioning services for the project.

Caliber Biotherapeutics opened a 145,000-sf biopharmaceutical production plant in April of 2011 in College Station, Texas. The facility will support the manufacturing of vaccines and protein-based drugs using tobacco plants instead of conventional egg-based methodologies. The project features modular cleanroom pods for purification and laboratory equipment. Caliber Therapeutics represents a research partnership of Texas A&M University and G-Con LLC.

Biogen Idec will begin construction in May of 2011 on the 180,000-sf Bio26 facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The building will include a five-story office tower and a wing housing an auditorium, conference rooms, and a cafeteria. The facility will support the growth of Biogen Idec’s biologics manufacturing operations. The construction manager for the project is RN Rouse. A minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility. Completion is expected in mid-2012. 

Bioniche Life Sciences opened the Animal Health and Food Safety Vaccine Manufacturing Centre in April of 2011 in Belleville, Ontario. The livestock vaccine manufacturing facility has a fermentation capacity of up to 5,000 liters as well as downstream processing. The center will support rapid scale-up for commercial production.

Ceva Animal Health opened its $18 million poultry vaccine production plant in May of 2011. Located in Lenexa, Kansas, the 55,000-sf facility will support manufacturing of both standard and vector vaccines with advanced automated systems and technologies.

Valent BioSciences is planning to build a $132 million bioprocessing facility in Osage, Iowa. The 130,000-sf building will house fermentation tanks with downstream processing equipment, quality assurance labs, offices, and warehouse space. Valent BioSciences is a maker of biological pesticides and plant growth regulators based in Libertyville, Ill.

Organogenesis broke ground on a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in April of 2011 in Canton, Mass. The 78,000-sf plant will use robotic and modular technologies to produce living cells used in regenerative medicine therapies. The project team includes architectural firm SMMA/Symmes Maini & McKee Associates and CRB Engineers. Completion is expected in 2013.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute broke ground in April of 2011 on a four-story building for the Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC). Located in Gateway Park in Worcester, Mass., the $30 million center will provide labs, classrooms, and offices for biopharmaceutical education and training. Designed to support industry partnerships, BETC will include a working pilot-scale biomanufacturing plant. The 92,000-sf project is supported by funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.