Lonza is expanding its mammalian drug substance manufacturing facilities in Visp, Switzerland and Portsmouth, U.S. In Visp, a new large-scale mammalian drug substance manufacturing facility will expand capacity with six 20,000L bioreactors and will have an area of approximately 27,500 m².
 
The investment will increase large-scale biologics manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand in the contract manufacturing space. The high throughput facility includes perfusion capabilities and is designed to support high titer processes and accommodate the next generation of mammalian biologics.
 
The facility is expected to be completed in 2024 and will complement the existing large-scale global network at Lonza sites in Tuas (SG), Portsmouth (US) and Porriño (ES).
 
In Portsmouth, a new next-generation facility supporting late-phase clinical and commercial development and manufacturing will add capacity for up to eight 2,000L single-use bioreactors over an area of 3,000 m².
 
This expansion will help meet the increasing market demand for small- to mid-scale mammalian-derived biologics and support the implementation of high titer and high throughput platform processes.
 
The facility is designed to support Phase 3 clinical and commercial small- to mid-volume products. It will include technologies in perfusion, purification, and automation.
 
Combined with Lonza’s services in process characterization and process validation, the facility will offer customers an optimized path through BLA to market as well as the flexibility to meet challenges in product forecasting during the initial years of product launch.
 
The facility is expected to be completed in 2023 and will complement the existing single-use network at Lonza sites in Hayward (US), Slough (UK), Tuas (SG) and Visp (CH).
 
Recruitment is underway for both of the new facilities. More than 300 new jobs will be created in Visp and 250 new positions will be recruited in Portsmouth.