With an official inauguration ceremony, HALIX celebrated the opening of its brand-new 6,700 square meter cGMP facility at the Leiden Bio Science Park. On behalf of HALIX, Alex Huybens, COO of HALIX, Dr. Roland Hecht, CCO of HALIX, Dr. Harry Flore, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of HALIX, and Paul Dirkse, Alderman of the municipality of Leiden, ceremoniously opened the new facility.
 
The opening marks the achievement of a major milestone within the construction process and is the basis for HALIX growth and expansion strategy. This enables HALIX to support its clients’ manufacturing of protein-based products, the key technology for future drug production, and virus-based products with cutting-edge technologies. The new building houses GMP production areas for viral and protein products and client-specific technologies, as well as associated laboratory and administration areas.
 
“The facility is a symbol for the strong innovative, dynamic and modern culture at HALIX,” said Alex Huybens, chief operating officer, HALIX. “Our team jointly worked with huge efforts on the progress of our clients’ projects and HALIX itself. These efforts and the new facility enable us to serve the growing client and market demands.”
 
Harry Flore, chairman of the supervisory board, HALIX, said, “We build our investment strategy alongside global megatrends. In the field of pharma, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) based on proteins are of importance and sustainable trends in future drug production. With these state-of-the-art new production facilities HALIX sets a new milestone in its development as a highly specialized biotech company.”
 
The new five-level production facility contains a state-of-the-art manufacturing line for viral vaccines and viral vectors, starting soon, with a 250 L bioreactor scale. A separate protein manufacturing area with a capacity up to 1,000 L single-use bioreactors is available. Laboratory spaces within the facility enable process development and transfer, analytical development and quality control of biopharmaceuticals.
 
Ensuring highest quality standards and GMP compliant production, the facility is designed and equipped according to latest biopharmaceutical quality standards. All BSL2 cleanrooms are structured according to the unidirectional process flow of personal and materials and prepared for an upgrade to BSL3, if required. The office spaces, laboratory and cleanroom areas offer up to 70 employees attractive and modern workplaces.