Brammer Bio president and CEO, Mark Bamforth, announces plans for a new facility at the BIO International Convention in San Francisco.
Lexington, MA – Brammer Bio, a best-in-class cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced plans to build out a 50,000sf facility dedicated to late phase development, including Phase 3 and commercial production of viral vector-based and cell-based advanced therapies. The facility will be qualified and operational in 2017.
Brammer Bio, which completed a merger with Florida Biologix in March of 2016, is building on the 10-year track record of manufacturing and testing to support clinical trials of advanced therapeutics.
Florida Biologix was founded by Brammer Bio’s chief scientific officer, Dr. Richard Snyder, who has gained unparalleled expertise through his 30-year career establishing cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The addition of large-scale and late-stage manufacturing at the Lexington, Mass., facility, in conjunction with the early clinical focus of the Florida location, provides clients with the start-to-finish capability of manufacturing and testing advanced cell and gene therapies.
According to Dr. Snyder, “The Lexington facility will be equipped for large-scale manufacturing with a focus on compliance in these emerging drug categories, providing a reliable supply of high-quality advanced therapies to our clients who are bringing their products to market.”
Brammer Bio is looking to grow the Lexington workforce by up to 200, employing engineers and scientists, along with specialists in jobs adding to the biotech industry’s growth in Massachusetts.
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“We welcome Brammer Bio to the growing life sciences manufacturing sector in Massachusetts,” said Travis McCready, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “Massachusetts is the global leader in the developing field of viral vector manufacturing, and a state where life sciences products can come full cycle.”
“We’re delighted to bring to reality full scale gene and cell therapy production in Massachusetts to serve the needs of our clients,” Brammer Bio president and CEO Mark Bamforth said.
Massachusetts State Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash, was present at the announcement at BIO International, the large annual conference and exposition of the Biotechnology Industry Association being held in San Francisco and commented, “Massachusetts possesses a unique combination of assets that make us a world-leader in life sciences: unbeatable talent, a robust ecosystem and exceptional institutions. Brammer Bio will be right at home in the Commonwealth, adding their expertise to the mix of world-class companies that already call Massachusetts home,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash.
“We are excited to access the strong talent pool in Massachusetts and to work in close proximity with many of our clients as they develop cutting-edge therapies,” said Steve Kasok, Brammer Bio’s Chief Financial Officer.
By creating high tech jobs and establishing large scale manufacturing for novel cell and gene therapies, Brammer Bio is positioned to be a leading player in the supply of these new drugs. More than $50 million USD will be invested in the complete staffing and build-out of operations.
“On behalf of MassBio and its more than 750 member organizations, I am thrilled to welcome Brammer Bio to Massachusetts,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, the life sciences trade organization. “With the depth of experience from the Brammer leadership team and the company’s focus on developing and manufacturing the newest technologies, I know the Lexington facility will be a great addition to our world leading life sciences cluster.”
Brammer Bio is focused on providing clinical and commercial supply of autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, and viral vector products for in vivo and ex vivo therapeutic applications, along with process and analytical development, and regulatory support enabling large pharma and biotech clients to accelerate the delivery of novel medicines and improve patient health.
