Thermo Opens GMP-Certified Ultra-Cold Facility to Accelerate Advanced Therapies Development

Thermo Fisher Scientific says it opened a new clinical and commercial ultra-cold GMP facility in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, expanding its clinical trial network in Europe to help accelerate the development of advanced therapies. The facility provides pharma and biopharma customers tailored, end-to-end support throughout the clinical supply chain for high-value therapies, including cell and gene therapies, biologics, antibodies, and vaccines, according to the company.

To meet increasing demand from cell and gene therapy clinical trials in Europe, the facility builds on the company’s market leadership and global CDMO capabilities in bioservices and specialty logistics services, including biorepository solutions and critical material storage, notes Molly Flick, VP and general manager, bioservices, and specialty logistics at Thermo.

She adds that the facility enables customers to meet clinical trial requirements regardless of scale or phase by leveraging its highly skilled and talented local workforce to partner with new and emerging biotech and established pharmaceutical companies.

“The opening of this facility supporting the development of cell and gene therapies and other biologics, coupled with our proven track record in managing valuable materials, places us in an unmatched position to help our global clients develop innovative therapies,” continues Flick.

The site, 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam, offers clinical and commercial packaging services for cell and gene therapy products from development to commercialization, as well as end to end biorepository storage solutions and associated supply chain services. Capabilities include 5,000 m2 (54,000 ft²) of ambient to cryogenic storage, ancillaries, and cold chain packaging, labeling, distribution as well as clinical QP release services.

Thermo has made a commitment to sustainability and its global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Thus, the Bleiswijk site uses 15% solar power and operates gas-free, provides sustainable heating and cooling with eco-friendly electric heat pumps, and uses ultramodern heat recovery technology, explains Flick.