Thermo Fisher Scientific is investing $50 million in its St Louis, MO site, one of the company’s Centres of Excellence for biologic commercial manufacturing. The investment is part of the company’s expansion strategy for its global network of biologic drug substance capabilities for clinical and commercial supply.

The project includes expansion of the existing manufacturing building with an additional 64,000 sq.-ft., which will double manufacturing capacity and will be operational in 2019. The expansion will use the Thermo Fisher bioproduction “eco-system” for bioreactors, consumables and factory automation and will be among the largest single-use bioproduction capacities at a CDMO. The investment will also allow for further expansion in the future. Approximately 80 new technical jobs are expected to be added.

“Biologics have the potential to benefit millions of patients around the world,” said Michel Lagarde, president of pharma services for Thermo Fisher. “Patheon Biologics, with this expansion, will be better equipped to meet the needs of our customers and ultimately the patients who rely on these life-saving therapies.”

The Patheon Biologics Network of four global sites is growing rapidly and has standardized on the 2000L, single-use platform as the preferred option in new drug development through to commercialization. The St. Louis site currently provides process development, clinical cGMP manufacturing and commercial manufacturing using both fed batch and perfusion processes and has in-house analytical capabilities for Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

“Thermo Fisher’s investment in the Patheon Biologics Network is a recognition of the extremely strong growth in demand for outsourced biologic development and commercial manufacturing,” said Stephen Lam, head of Biologics. “This expansion is a tangible demonstration of the company’s commitment to excellence in our biologics capabilities and to maintaining a leadership position. Over the past two years, we have doubled our manufacturing capacity at all of our locations including the St. Louis site – to meet our customers’ growing demand.”