Lonza Pharma & Biotech is investing in a new phase of development at their Portsmouth, NH site. The expansion will include mid-scale mammalian capacity and the addition of new cell-therapy suites.
 
The company is installing multiple 6,000L bioreactors at the site to meet existing and new customers’ needs, with building expected to start in late 2018. Further expansion of mid-scale capacity is a key area of growth for the company driven by a favorable regulatory environment for developing products for niche indications.
 
Lonza is implementing full-suite process analytic technology (PAT) and advanced multi-variate analysis (MVA) to ensure consistent performance. The hybrid facility, which also incorporates single-use technologies for simplified processing, will be installed in an existing building.
 
Additionally, the company is installing multiple cell-therapy suites at the Portsmouth site. In February 2018, the company established centers of excellence in cell and gene therapy across its network, with Portsmouth as a clinical and commercial manufacturing center in this emerging technology. Customers will have access to facilities for phase I through to commercial manufacturing under one roof, which is expected to be fully operational by late 2018.

“These new facilities have been designed specifically to deliver for our customers and their patients,” said Marc Funk, chief operating officer, Lonza Pharma & Biotech. “They will be enabled by cutting-edge technology developed with our R&D team and the decades of expertise at our Portsmouth site”