Wacker, the Munich-based chemicals group, is investing in its production facilities for biologics, LMPs (live microbial products) and vaccines at its Amsterdam site. Projects include the construction of a new fermentation line with a volume of 1,500 liters as well as the setting up of new cleanroom structures in the 270-liter fermentation line. According to the company, the investment price is a mid-double-digit million-euro amount.
 
“By investing in new plants and production equipment, we are continuing to upgrade the Amsterdam site two years after Wacker took it over, and are making our company fit for the future,” explained Dr. Jörg Lindemann, managing director of the Wacker subsidiary Wacker Biotech B.V.
 
The construction of a new fermentation line with a volume of 1,500 liters is planned, which, after a transition period, will eventually supersede the existing 1,500-liter line. At the same time, new, improved cleanroom structures in the area of the 270-liter production line are to be created. The existing cleanrooms will be gutted, completely renovated and successively re-equipped with new equipment. Among other improvements, new utility supplies are planned, such as water for injection. These measures will contribute to preparing the plant to produce new classes of actives, such as pDNA and mRNA-based vaccines. These nucleic acid-based actives classes are currently playing a role, for example, in the search for a vaccine against the new SARS Cov-2 corona virus.
 
“The strategic investment in our Amsterdam site is an important step in our continued growth in the fast-growing market for pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Susanne Leonhartsberger, head of Wacker Biosolutions, the company’s life-science division.
 
“The new structures, new equipment and new fermentation line will also enable us to reliably meet our customers’ demand in the next years. We will strengthen our position as one of the leading contract manufacturers in the field of microbial production of biologics,” added Dr. Guido Seidel, head of the Biopharmaceuticals business line and managing director of Wacker Biotech GmbH.