Fujifilm expands fill/finish services for gene therapies in Texas

29-May-2018 - Last updated on 15-Aug-2019 at 14:33 GMT

(Image: Getty/gustavofrazao)

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has added fill/finish capabilities for late-phase and commercial supply of gene therapies and viral vaccines.

The Japanese contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) has invested in Vanrx Pharmasystems’ SA25 Aseptic Filling Workcell technology to offer “end to end” manufacturing services at its flexible manufacturing facility (FBF) in Texas, US.

The 80,000 square-foot plant in College Station – acquired from Kalon Therpaeutics in 2014 – opened in January this year.

The fill/finish investment will enable clients to “swiftly” advance therapies from bulk drug substance into commercial production, said COO Gerry Farrell in a statement.

“We recognised that having Fill Finish capabilities that extend beyond the current clinical stage is essential to support the rapid delivery of clinical candidates to patients," he added.

The announcement is the latest in a line of bioprocessing investments for Fujifilm Corporation, which acquired Diosynth Biotechnologies from Merck & Co. in 2011.

In April last year, the firm said it would spend ¥3bn ($27.4m) on mammalian cell culture bioreactors at its Texas-based FBF. The company also announced plans to build a ¥1bn process development facility at its facility in Billingham, UK.

Additionally, in March this year, Fujifilm paid $800m (€650m) for cell culture media firm Irvine Scientific.