Genzyme further expands Belgian plant in Euro 46m investment

Biotechnology company Genzyme is to expand its high-tech cell culture production facility in Geel, Belgium with an additional 4000-litre bioreactor. Eighty new jobs will be created at the site, taking the total workforce to more than 430 people.

"This expansion will substantially strengthen our global infrastructure and is fundamentally important to our future growth," said Sandra Poole, vice president and general manager of the Geel biomanufacturing plant. "Our investment in the Belgian site is a reflection of our commitment to Europe and is enabling us to bring our innovative therapies to a growing number of patients around the world."

Genzyme's state-of-the-art biotechnology production facility for therapeutic proteins in Geel is among the largest biomanufacturing plants in Europe. The multi-product facility produces recombinant therapeutic proteins by large-scale mammalian cell cultures. At present, the facility contains two 10,000-litre bioreactors for the production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies used in cancer therapy. The additional bioreactor of 4000L, together with two existing 4000L bioreactors, will be used for the production of therapeutic proteins to treat Lysosomal Storage Disorders, a group of very rare diseases affecting 1 in 50,000 people. Completion of the installation of the new bioreactor is expected by mid-2011.

The extra bioreactor brings Genzyme's overall investment in the Geel facility to in excess of Euro 350m.