Strasbourg-based Polyplus-transfection started construction of Vectura, a new 4,000-square-meter facility which is being built to enable the company to continue to tap into the exponential growth in demand for raw materials for advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) development and manufacturing.

Following completion of the facility, Polyplus officials say they will be able to meet the expectations of the gene and cell therapy market moving from late-stage clinical development into commercialization as well as ongoing increases in R&D and pre-clinical gene therapy development.

The facility will also house Polyplus-transfection’s head office, managing its international operations and delivery of transfection reagents to cell and gene therapy organizations around the globe.

According to a company spokesperson, the completion of the new facility will fulfil several immediate priorities for Polyplus, including doubling its headcount both in its gene and cell therapy transfection reagent manufacturing and development departments. It will also provide additional manufacturing capacity for ex vivo and in vivo therapy products. This is expected to increase Polyplus’ production capacity to manufacture and deliver transfection solutions to target a wide range of diseases globally. In the new facility, R&D and laboratory space will increase by over 300 percent.

Polyplus currently plans for the facility to be operational for its 20-year anniversary in the third quarter of 2021. The initiation of construction follows significant investment by Warburg Pincus and ArchiMed last April.

“The gene and cell therapy market continues to grow at a high rate, with more late-stage clinical trials moving towards commercialization, additionally supported by an increase in earlier stage therapies moving into the clinic. As a supplier of critical strategic materials for the sector, Polyplus-transfection will continue to invest to increase its capabilities and support its global customer base,” said Mario Philips, CEO, Polyplus-transfection. “We remain in prime position to support the maturing gene and cell therapy sector with critical materials, including innovative transfection solutions.”

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