PackGene Biotech Inc., an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector contract research organization (CRO) and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced the expansion of its U.S. services with a new cGMP biomanufacturing and processing facility in Houston.

The company broke ground on the full-service operations center this week to support a growing base of U.S. customers advancing gene therapy programs.

“We are excited to bring economical, reliable, and scalable AAV products, as well as our viral vector development and GMP production capabilities, to our next full-service operations center in Houston,” said LiYing Yang, chief technology officer. “These capabilities will enable us to serve our U.S. customers better and, importantly, to help bring life-saving therapies to patients faster, more reliably, and more cost- effectively. With this, we are making great strides in advancing our mission of ‘making gene therapy affordable.”

The 25,000-square-foot facility will be located just outside Houston’s inner loop at 9310 Kirby Drive and will include process and analytical laboratories, cGMP manufacturing cleanrooms and support areas, quality control laboratories, a warehouse, and office space.

According to the company, the move represents an expansion of the existing operations, which include some process and analytical development, and laboratory space, employing approximately 20 people.

PackGene says it plans to nearly triple its Houston-area workforce to about 60 by the end of 2023 upon completion of the new facility.