Strong medicine
Thermo Fisher unveils £14m facility at Renfrewshire base
THERMO Fisher Scientific has unveiled a £14 million facility at its base in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, where a novel technology is used to make products for drugs that treat ‘flu and other diseases.
The life sciences giant said the investment brings continuity of supply for its clients in target markets around the world, complementing its existing facility in Grand Island, upstate New York.
It is a major vote of confidence in its Scottish workforce, which switched to Thermo Fisher when it acquired California-based Life Technologies Corporation for $13.6 billion in 2013.
Thermo Fisher is investing £12m in the new facility, alongside a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant of £1.9m secured through Scottish Enterprise.
It represents the biggest investment at the Inchinnan site since a third building was added in 2009, with the RSA grant having been crucial to the project going ahead.
The site has adopted Advanced Granulation Technology (AGT) to manufacture dry media powder.
AGT, which Thermo Fisher utilises in its US plant, takes all the properties cells need to live – such as salts, sugar, amino acids, vitamins – which are packaged in a usable format for manufacturers.
The format reduces the number of components needed in cell culture manufacturing, and can be used in a range of drugs, including anti-cancer therapeutics.
The names of the drugs for which AGT is utilised are generally not disclosed, but Thermo Fisher said there are about 400 products on the market that have employed the technology.
These include some of the “largest blockbusters” in bio-therapeutics.
AGT is also said to bring the benefits of traditional liquid media without the associated cost, storage and transportation challenges.
Plans to introduce the facility to Inchinnan were first mooted four years ago, but it was not until 18 months ago that building work got under way.
The facility, which will add 30 skilled roles to the 600-strong workforce, will be up to full capacity in six months.
Mark Smedley, Thermo Fisher’s president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the plant will ensure a pipeline of supply for clients by bolstering its US site, the only other site where it uses the technology.
Mr Smedley said: “One of the challenges if you are a bio pharma and you are producing life-saving drugs [is] you have a commitment to patients to make sure you don’t run out.
“As a result, we have the same commitment to our customers to make sure they don’t run out.”
Mr Smedley added: “It’s important to choose the right location for a factory of this significance, and we felt the depth of experience, skills and expertise at Inchinnan made it the perfect place to make this investment.”
Thermo Fisher employs about 50,000 staff in 50 countries, and generates revenues of $17 billion.
We‘ felt the depth of experience, skills and expertise at Inchinnan made it the perfect place to make this investment