PackGene Biotech broke ground on a new cGMP biomanufacturing and processing facility in Houston to support U.S. customers advancing gene therapy programs.
“We are excited to bring economical, reliable, and scalable AAV products, as well as our viral vector development and GMP production capabilities, to our next full-service operations center in Houston,” said LiYing Yang, PhD, the company’s CTO.
The 25,000-ft2 facility will include process and analytical laboratories, cGMP manufacturing cleanrooms and support areas, quality control laboratories, a warehouse, and office space. This represents an expansion of the existing operations, which include some process and analytical development, and lab space, employing approximately 20 people. PackGene plans to nearly triple its Houston-area workforce to about 60 by the end of 2023 when the new facility is expected to be complete.
Founded in Massachusetts, PackGene has additional operations in China (Guangzhou and Shanghai). The company works with customers to support gene therapy programs from early-stage R&D and preclinical development to IND-enabling studies. PackGene aims to accelerate gene therapy product development by providing a fully integrated one-stop solution including plasmid, viral vector, fill-finish, and quality control analytical services for the gene therapy industry, according to Yang.
