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WuXi Biologics breaks ground on $240m manufacturing site near Beijing

09-Nov-2018 - Last updated on 09-Nov-2018 at 11:12 GMT

WuXi Biologics' Biologics Center of Excellence (MFG8) in Shijiazhuan, China

Related tags Wuxi biologics China CDMO

Construction has started at WuXi Biologics’ eighth drug substance manufacturing facility, which CEO Chris Chen says will enable the CDMO to “develop and manufacture biologics more cost effectively”.

Contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) WuXi Biologics announced last week it has broken ground on its Biologics Manufacturing Center of Excellence (MFG8) in Northern China’s Hebei province.

The $240m (€203m) facility will house process development labs, 5,000L bioreactor capacity for clinical manufacturing, and 48,000L bioreactor capacity for commercial manufacturing.

According to the firm, the plant will serve both Chinese and global clients, and be built to meet current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards of the US, the European Union, and China. Operations are expected to begin in 2020.

“We are pleased to break ground today and look forward to the operations of this new Biologics Center,” said Chris Chen in a statement.

“This facility will enable WuXi Biologics to develop and manufacture biologics more cost effectively as well as to provide a robust supply chain network for our global partners, and ultimately to benefit patients worldwide,” he added.