Gene therapy facility to open in 2022
A biosciences company that was created through research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to pioneer cell- and gene-based therapy soon will have a new facility that will create 250 new jobs in the Columbus area.
The company, Andelyn Biosciences, which was named after two patients that participated in crucial clinical trials at Nationwide Children’s, will be expanding through a $200 million investment.
Construction began in November at the new 185,000-square-foot facility at 1180 Arthur E. Adams Dr. in Ohio State University’s Innovation District. Completion is expected next year.
When it opens, it will be central Ohio’s first commercial-scale production facility devoted to cell and gene therapies.
“Andelyn Biosciences represents an important evolution of Nationwide Children’s current success in clinical manufacturing and gene therapy,” Tim Robinson, CEO of Nationwide Children’s, said in a statement. “The Abigail Wexner Research Institute has become widely recognized among the nation’s leaders in developing gene therapies, which are becoming safe and effective treatments for previously fatal or untreatable genetic diseases.”
The expansion is made possible by the investment from New York-based Pall Corporation and international company Cytiva.
“The strategic partnership with Pall
Corporation and Cytiva marks a significant milestone in Andelyn’s ability to accelerate its vision to pioneer solutions that turn hope into reality,” said Mayo Pujols, CEO of Andelyn Biosciences in a statement.
“It shows a growing confidence in Andelyn’s future as we expand our services into Phase 3 and commercial manufacturing, allowing us to serve a variety of clients and accelerate the development and manufacturing of innovative
cell and gene therapies.”
The Andelyn facility has received support from the state’s economic organization, Jobsohio, as well as One Columbus and the city of Columbus.
Part of the expansion includes adding development and quality control capabilities. The company is also offering plasmid manufacturing.
The company remains closely aligned with the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s.
“Gene therapy advancements have the potential to cure debilitating diseases and improve the lives of millions of people around the world, but challenges with limited capacity and expertise in the critical area of viral vectors continue to slow development and must be addressed. The combined expertise of Pall, Cytiva and Andelyn will help address the industry’s current bottlenecks and advance innovation,” said Joe Repp, president of Pall Life Sciences, in a statement. bburger@dispatch.com @Bybethburger