Sarepta Therapeutics, a U.S. commercial-stage biopharma company focused on unique RNA-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of rare neuromuscular diseases, has opened its Research and Manufacturing Center in Andover, MA.

The 60,000-sq.-ft. facility significantly enhances its research and manufacturing capabilities, expands its global commercial footprint, and advances its Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) pipeline, which comprises an exon skipping platform and next generation approaches such as gene therapy and utrophin upregulation programs. The current focus of the manufacturing facility will be to advance Sarepta’s development pipeline, and by the end of the year, could have as many as seven investigational DMD treatments in the clinic.

Sarepta plans to expand its headcount in Andover by 100% in the next 12 to 18 months, adding approximately 50 employees.

“Since first moving to Massachusetts in 2013, Sarepta has benefited enormously from the Commonwealth’s talented and highly-educated workforce,” said Edward Kaye of Sarepta. “This expansion underscores our ongoing commitment to patients with Duchenne and investment in the vibrant Massachusetts economy. We are grateful to Governor Baker, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, MassBio, the Town of Andover, and other state and local officials who support our mission to serve the greater DMD community.”