Fujifilm Opens Billingham Production Facility

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics, viral vaccines, and viral vectors, has officially welcomed its microbial fermentation manufacturing facility in Billingham, UK.¹ Powered by a $131 million investment, the new plant triples its current microbial production efforts, due to its new production line. Specifically, the facility features 2 X 4000 L fermenters, a modular purification suite, and a primary separations suite.

This expansion project was partially intended to support the needs of a pharmaceutical partner with a highly specialized ophthalmic therapeutic for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disorder that can result in blurred vision; it reportedly impacts more than 700,000 people, with 39,800 patients developing Wet AMD each year, making it the UK’s largest source for vision loss.²

The Billingham plant is also designed to have flexibility, allowing for it to take on new projects as they arise.

“With the completion of this project, we are fulfilling our commitment with our partner, and supporting the commercialization of its ophthalmic therapeutic,” said Lars Petersen, president and CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. “This is a prime example of our partnership-based business model, a key element in our Partners for Life strategy, to help our customers bring their life-impacting medicines to patients.”

“Sight loss is devastating for the quality of life, and the confidence, of those who suffer from it. The specialized therapeutics that will be made at Billingham, thanks to this investment, could eventually help thousands of people who suffer from wet age-related macular degeneration,” noted Science Minister Lord Vallance. “This news is also proof of the economic value of our life sciences clusters—pulling investment into places like Teesside, and building on the world-class expertise that is already in the area.”

This specific facility is also expected to accommodate the late-stage production process.

“… Today’s celebration underscores our commitment to our BioCampus in Billingham where we are progressing on expansions for our process development and quality labs as well as an expansion focusing on late-stage clinical and commercial cell culture drug substance manufacturing,” commented Kenneth Bilenberg, the company’s COO.

In other Fujifilm news, the company also financially committed $1.2 billion toward its large-scale cell culture CDMO business by growing its end-to-end bio-manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, NC.³ This brings the total investment in the facility to over $3.2 billion, while adding additional large-scale production capacity to its global network.

“This investment is an important step to further accelerate the growth of our biopharmaceutical CDMO business,” said Teiichi Goto, president and CEO, representative director, FUJIFILM Corporation. “Fujifilm is committed to advancing a healthier society, and we are proud that our people, and this site in Holly Springs will play a vital role in supporting our partners in producing critical therapies to serve the needs of patients.”

References

1. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Celebrates Opening of Billingham, UK Microbial Manufacturing Facility. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://fujifilmdiosynth.com/about/news/fujifilm-diosynth-biotechnologies-celebrates-opening-of-billingham-uk-microbial-manufacturing-facility/

2. First NOD Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) audit annual report| NOD Audit. 2003. https://shorturl.at/PNpOV.

3. Fujifilm to Invest Additional $1.2 Billion to Expand its Large-Scale Cell Culture CDMO Business in North Carolina. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. April 11, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://fujifilmdiosynth.com/about/news/fujifilm-to-invest-additional-1-2-billion-to-expand-its-large-scale-cell-culture-cdmo-business-in-north-carolina/