Member Article

CPI launches new £38m National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington

A new National Biologics Manufacturing Centre has been officially launched in the North East by The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI).

Based in Darlington, Co. Durham, the £38m centre was opened by Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science and Steve Bagshaw, CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.

The new Centre will provide companies with open access facilities and expertise to help them develop, prove and commercialise new and improved processes and technologies for biologics manufacture.

Biopharmaceuticals are medicines produced through biotechnology which represent the cutting-edge of biomedical research. They are delivering significant advances in healthcare with completely new medicines being developed for serious illnesses, including cancer, blood conditions, auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. The use of biotechnology can also facilitate the development of the next generation of personalised medicines for specific diseases and patient groups.

The National Biologics Manufacturing Centre was announced in 2012 as part of the UK strategy for Life science. The Strategy outlined a vision for the UK to be a global leader in the life science sector. The £38m investment was made by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills through InnovateUK.

Launching the new Centre, Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science said, “We want the UK to be the best place in Europe to innovate which is why we have invested in this new Centre to capitalise on the North East’s expertise in medicines manufacturing and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences. As part of our successful Catapult network, the Centre will bridge the gap between business and academia and help to turn great ideas into commercial reality.”

Nigel Perry, CEO of CPI said, “The launch of the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre will significantly increase the UK’s manufacturing capability in biologics and strengthen the UK’s position as the location of choice for life science companies. This open access facility will enable companies to test and trial new ideas cheaply and quickly with minimised risk, allowing new innovative medicines to reach the market faster and provide improved care for patients and better opportunities for businesses”.