Fujifilm Diosynth to collaborate with MSD on large-scale microbial biologics facility

Published: 7-Jun-2016

The new biologics facility at Brinny, County Cork, Ireland is expected to be operational in early 2018


Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a biologics Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), is to establish a long-term collaboration with MSD, known as Merck in the US and Canada, to invest in and operate a large-scale microbial-biologics facility.

MSD will invest $60m (EUR53m) at its Brinny manufacturing plant in Innishannon, County Cork, Ireland to build a 20,000L microbial-based biologics facility. The existing plant has been in operation for more than 30 years and is an integrated site for the development, testing and manufacturing of biologics.

The new the large-scale biologics operations at Brinny are expected to be operational in early 2018.

Innovative approaches bridging pharma and CDMO can build value for suppliers and ultimately patients

Fujifilm Diosynth said the new plant will complement its existing microbial capacity in the US and UK, which ranges from 100L up to 5,000L.

The firm says it will lead customer interactions, programme management and process and analytical development, and the MSD facility in Brinny will operate as cGMP manufacturing support for its CDMO business, enabling 'seamless technology transfer and technical support'.

Microbial fermentation is vital technology for manufacturing biologics, and this investment, drawing on the latest production advances, will enable Fujifilm Diosynth’s existing and future customers to benefit from higher product volumes and lower costs.

Steve Bagshaw, CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth, said: 'We are delighted to progress this collaboration which illustrates how innovative approaches bridging pharma and CDMO can build value for suppliers and ultimately patients.'

Sanat Chattopadhyay, President of the MSD Manufacturing Division, added: 'MSD is excited to collaborate with Fujifilm Diosynth through expanded capabilities in bulk microbial fermentation and downstream support services. This will allow MSD to use and further develop the skills and competencies of the people at the MSD site in Brinny and build on the site’s long tradition of manufacturing excellence.'

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