Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has opened its new mammalian cell culture cGMP manufacturing facility in Billingham, UK. The new facility was purpose-built to primarily use single-use technologies for both upstream and downstream operations. It will offer 200L and 1,000L bioreactors, with an additional 2,000L bioreactor planned for 2014. The facility has been designed for further expansion to meet customer demand. The company has begun working on its first customer project at the facility.
 
During the past two years the company has invested £30 million at its UK and Research Triangle Park, NC, facilities. New cell line development and process development labs have been set up at both sites, and a 1,000L single-use bioreactor was installed at the RTP facility to supplement its 2,000L stainless steel train for the GMP production of mammalian cell culture biopharmaceuticals.
 
Steve Bagshaw, managing director of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK, said “I am delighted that we have been able to build and commission our new GMP mammalian cell culture manufacturing facility in such a short time frame. This new capacity, using the latest single-use technologies, provides our customers with a full life-cycle offering for mammalian cell culture biopharmaceuticals from our UK site, and complements our offering in microbial-based biologics. It reinforces Fujifilm’s commitment to lead the global Biologics CMO industry through continuous innovation and implementation of new technologies.”