GE Healthcare expands European capabilities to support accelerated biomanufacturing

Published: 12-Apr-2016

Doubles large volume sterile liquid handling capacity and launches Rapid Response Production service for research, process development, and bioproduction


GE Healthcare’s Life Sciences business has expanded the capabilities of its European manufacturing and distribution site for sterile liquids located in Pasching, Austria.

The facility will now be able to produce large volumes of buffers, process liquids and cell culture media, and also offers a rapid production service for prototype cell culture media and buffers.

The site in Austria mirrors the high quality and performance standards of the firm's Centre of Excellence in Logan, Utah, US and meets customer requirements for consistent global quality management, the firm said.

The manufacture of biopharmaceuticals and vaccines used in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders and other areas of unmet medical need requires a reliable, flexible supply of sterile liquids, including cell culture media and buffers, to support high-yield production and efficient purification of the target product. The Pasching facility serves biopharmaceutical companies in more than 40 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Development and scale-up of bioprocesses frequently require quick manufacture of prototype media and buffers to facilitate timely process evaluation and fast implementation. GE’s Pasching site now also offers Rapid Response Production services, enabling production of small volumes of prototype cell culture media and buffers within five days of ordering.

David Radspinner, General Manager of Bioprocess Cell Culture at GE Healthcare’s Life Sciences business, said: 'Our aim is to accelerate development and scale-up for our biomanufacturing customers by providing simplified, flexible services both in Europe and other regions. The capabilities of our Pasching facility will enable us to seamlessly support our customers globally, ensuring security of supply with multiple manufacturing sites that are qualified and validated to the same quality standards.'

GE’s additional production capacity at Pasching has been developed over two years, with an investment of US$4.3m (€3.8m). The site is also a production and distribution centre for Europe, with more than 300,000 individual product items shipped through the site every year.

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