Medicago is partnering with Genepole to construct a flu vaccine manufacturing facility in Evry, France. The facility will utilize Medicago’s plant-based vaccine production technology. Construction of the facility will commence pending successful phase one clinical trials of an H5N1 vaccine.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $35 million contract in June of 2009 to Protein Sciences Corporation of Meriden, Conn., to pursue advanced development of recombinant influenza vaccine. The technology involves injecting flu virus genes into an insect virus (baculovirus) where it multiplies quickly in the insect cells, which are purified to become a part of a human vaccine.
Pfizer will invest €11 million to construct the Kilo Technology Laboratory in Ringaskiddy, Ireland. The dedicated R&D laboratory will be located in the existing Process Development Centre on Pfizer’s County Cork campus. Housing 100 employees, the facility will support the creation of new manufacturing technologies.
Esco announced the launch of a new range of Pharmacon Downflow Booths in July of 2009. Downflow booths are used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries for operations such as sampling, grinding, dispensing, and filling, which generate airborne particles. The booths support processes that involve hazardous, toxic, or sensitizing materials and protect operators and adjoining areas from exposure to aerosols of the process materials.Esco Pharmacon Downflow Booths feature:
Medco Health Solutions is expanding its Zionsville, Ind., campus with the construction of a $17.3 therapy research center. Medco is also building a $150 million mail order prescription facility. The 452,000-sf project broke ground in March of 2008 and will open in fall of 2009. The therapy research center and the prescription facility will house a total of 1,400 employees.
Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai opened its £100 million European Knowledge Centre in Hatfield, U.K., in early July of 2009. Located on 14.5 acres in the Hatfield Business Park, the facility will accommodate 500 employees. The project includes a research laboratory, a manufacturing facility, an office building, and shared facilities. The European Knowledge Centre integrates the functions of discovery research, clinical development, production, packaging, marketing, and administration.
Lonza Group will begin construction in early 2010 on a cell therapy production facility in Singapore. Located in the Tuas Biomedical Park, the CHF 30 million project will house cGMP cell therapeutics manufacturing facilities. Completion is expected in early 2011.
Althea Technologies opened its $15 million commercial-scale biologics manufacturing facility in San Diego in May of 2009. The 30,000-sf building will support sterile production of vaccines, therapeutics, and pharmaceuticals.
Roche opened a $4.4 million pharmaceutical research facility in Madison, Wis., in April of 2009. The project involved renovation of a 24,000-sf building in the University of Madison Research Park to house R&D laboratories for the study of RNA interference and gene therapy. The facility will house 45 employees.
Pfizer dedicated its newly renovated laboratory and office facility in Kalamazoo, Mich., in April of 2009. The 780,000-sf project will serve as the global headquarters for Pfizer’s animal genetics and veterinary medicine R&D operations. Housing 680 employees, the $75 million project will consolidate staff from Richland Township, Pa., and Sandwich, U.K.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals opened its biopharmaceutical research facility in San Diego in April of 2009. Designed by Kornberg Associates, the 38,000-sf project transformed an existing single-story structure into a two-story laboratory and research office complex. The building includes a video conferencing room and an interstitial floor for HVAC equipment. Housing organic, peptide, and analytical chemistry labs, the facility features mobile workbenches and cabinets that connect to a horizontal utility umbilical for maximum flexibility.
Covance celebrated the official opening of its $175 million animal research facility in Chandler, Ariz., in late March of 2009. The two-story, 288,000-sf pharmaceutical testing facility includes five laboratories, a vivarium, animal care space, and a 100-seat auditorium. Construction began on the project in June of 2007 and reached completion in May of 2008. The facility is sited on 77 acres and houses mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. A second expansion phase is planned at the facility that could begin construction in 2011. Covance is based in Princeton, N.J.
Bristol-Myers Squibb opened its 20,000-sf research and development facility in Bangalore, India, in March of 2009. Located in Biocon Park, the project will house 270 researchers engaged in pharmaceutical discovery and drug development. Construction began on the project in March of 2007.
ZUELLIG Pharma opened a $40 million distribution center in Singapore in early March of 2009. Housing the company’s Specialty Solutions Group, the facility will enable Zuellig to expand clinical trials operations in Asia.
Strathclyde University is constructing the £35 million Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences in Glasgow. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the 8,000-sm multidisciplinary facility will support drug discovery and pharmaceutical R&D as well as housing the departments of physiology, bioscience, immunology, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmacology. The six-story project will include a 160-seat teaching lab, research labs, interactive write-up spaces, and a pharmaceutical cleanroom.
