Making a Difference in European Bio/Pharma

Felicity Thomas;

Recently there has been a swathe of news stories on investment into manufacturing capacity across Europe and beyond. As the global pharmaceutical manufacturing market is set to grow at a double-digit rate into the near future (1) and the drive to improve regional supply chain resilience further increases, this trend of spending on manufacturing capacity will undoubtedly follow suit.

Of note…

Thermo announced in October that it has opened a new biologics manufacturing site in Lengau, Switzerland (2). This new facility, for which Thermo has operational responsibility thanks to a strategic partnership with CSL Limited, offers up to 12,500 L of bioreactor capacity.

Also in Switzerland, Lonza is investing in its Stein and Basel facilities (3). The funds will be used to implement an additional aseptic flexible filling line for clinical supply of drug product in Stein and extended drug product services for parenteral dosage forms in Basel.

Editor’s Note: This article was published in Pharmaceutical Technology Europe’s August 2021 print issue.

Moving over to Ireland where AstraZeneca is looking to establish an API manufacturing facility with an investment of US$360 million (€311 million) (4). The company’s new facility will be able to manufacture various medicines, including new modalities such as antibody drug conjugates and oligonucleotides.

Quotient Sciences is putting funds into an acquired facility based in Alnwick, United Kingdom (5). The company is spending £6.3 million (€7.5 million) to repurpose the old Arcinova facility to include additional digital control and data capture equipment.

There is no doubt that these investments, among all the others being announced or in the pipeline, will help bolster the European bio/pharma supply chain and there will be keen interest to see what spending awaits us.

References

1. Research and Markets, Global Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report by Molecule Type, by Drug Development Type, by Formulation, by routes of Administration, by Sales Channel, by Age Group, and Segment Forecasts, 2021–2028, Market Report, July 2021.
2. Thermo Fisher Scientific, “Thermo Fisher Scientific Opens Biologics Manufacturing Site in Lengau, Switzerland,” Press Release, 1 Oct. 2021.
3. Lonza, “Lonza Invests to Expand Drug Product Development and Manufacturing Services in Switzerland,” Press Release, 22 Sep. 2021.
4. AstraZeneca, “AstraZeneca to Invest $360m in Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Ireland,” Press Release, 21 Sep. 2021.
5. Quotient Sciences, “Quotient Sciences Announces Multimillion-Pound Investment in Drug Substance Manufacturing Facility,” Press Release, 25 Aug. 2021.

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Citation

When referring to this article, please cite it as F. Thomas, “Making a Difference,” Pharmaceutical Technology Europe 33 (11) 2021.