The new facility in Plainville, Massachusetts is intended to manufacture materials central to the production of gene-based therapeutics
Thermo Fisher Scientific has opened a new state-of-the-art viral vector manufacturing facility in Plainville, Mass. (Credit: Business Wire/ Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.)
US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the opening of a new viral vector manufacturing facility in Plainville, Massachusetts to expand its cell and gene therapy capabilities.
The new advanced 300,000ft² facility will create about 300 jobs to support the creation, testing, and production of viral vectors, which are essential elements in the creation and marketing of gene treatments.
The cGMP-compliant Plainville plant will expand the firm’s clinical and commercial viral vector capacity to six facilities in the US and Europe.
It also includes Thermo Fisher’s advanced bioproduction and analytical equipment technologies, adaptable laboratory and production suites, nearby warehouses, and office space.
Thermo Fisher’s investment is a part of its strategy to offer customers fully integrated capabilities that connect the whole cell and gene therapy value chain, from early development and clinical scale-up to commercial manufacture.
It will offer cell therapy manufacturing, plasmid DNA production, viral vector services, translational sciences labs for early-stage development, and integrated commercial packaging and distribution services.
With more than 20 years of experience in cGMP viral vector manufacturing, the company has created more than 130 viral vector products used to research treatments for cancer, blood disorders, and other hereditary diseases.
Thermo Fisher currently employs more than 3,500 people across more than 15 facilities to service numerous businesses throughout the Commonwealth, with the opening of the Plainville location.
Thermo Fisher Scientific president and chief executive officer Marc Casper said: “Plainville is an impressive addition to our pharma services network as we continue to invest and innovate cell and gene therapy services, products, and workflows.
“We are enabling our customers to speed their scientific discoveries in cell and gene therapy while also supporting their manufacturing needs, whether they are early in the development process or ready to transition to clinical or commercial scale.”
The company has also launched a new line of electrochemistry bench meters to simplify pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen measurements.
It features a compact form for storage and can also transfer data and calibration logs to meet GLP/GMP reporting standards.
Thermo Scientific Orion Lab Star Bench Meters are perfect for users with diverse degrees of technical knowledge, from laboratory managers and scientists to students and laboratory technicians.
It is developed for simplicity of use and large backlit display screens make it simple to read and record sample measurements.