Biovian, a CDMO, invested over €50M to expand its manufacturing facility in Turku, Finland. The new facility will have an area of 6,400 m2 (69,000 ft2) and advanced equipment and technologies to support the development, manufacturing, and testing of ATMP (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), such as adenoviral and AAV (adeno-associated viral) therapies. It will also include dedicated Class A to D cleanroom areas for bulk drug substances as well as final drug product manufacture.
The additional space complements Biovian’s existing manufacturing facilities in the area and will enable Biovian to undertake larger-scale viral vector as well as microbial protein projects and concurrent manufacturing campaigns by increasing overall production capacity and flexibility, according to company officials.
Biovian specializes in the production of biologics, gene therapies, and vaccines, working with GMP E. coli recombinant proteins and viral vectors such as AAV and adenovirus. The investment will enable Biovian to offer end-to-end services, from early-stage development to commercial-scale manufacturing, serving the diverse needs of its biopharmaceutical customers, notes Antti Nieminen, CEO.
“The new manufacturing facility will not only strengthen Biovian’s position as a key player in the CDMO sector, but also contribute to the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry in Finland and most of all provide vital therapies to patients suffering from today’s untreatable diseases,” says Nieminen.
“Biovian aims to facilitate swift drug development and delivery, reducing time-to-market for its customers, all while creating an enjoyable experience. The new manufacturing facility will increase viral vector capacity, but it will also increase our capacity and flexibility in microbial protein. When the new site is up and running, our existing capacity will be transformed to new microbial protein suites. Thus, both microbial and viral vector customers will benefit from this expansion.”
The expansion project is expected to be completed in December 2024, with the new facility fully operational by 2025.