Avecia Announces US $100 million Biologics Manufacturing Investment
28 February 2002 Avecia today announced a US $100m (£70m) investment programme to build one of the world’s most advanced biologics medicines manufacturing facilities. The investment, at Billingham UK, will create 40,000 litres of contract manufacturing capacity for microbially-derived biologics. The first stage is due on stream in 2003 and, on completion in 2005, it will be the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the world.
The project is a major step in Avecia’s high-growth strategy to generate US $500m (£350m) fine chemicals sector sales by 2005, and for which its biotechnology and pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing businesses are two key drivers.
The project will generate up to 300 new, science- based jobs and further strengthen the importance of the North of England as a UK centre of excellence in biomanufacturing. The investment is expected to create several hundred additional jobs in plant construction, allied and support services.
Biologics are a new generation of medicines, based on natural proteins. They offer improved ways to treat life threatening diseases - such as forms of cancer, diabetes and heart conditions.
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