WuXi Biologics, a global company with leading open-access biologics technology platforms, announced it has successfully launched the GMP operation of its new drug product facility located in Wuxi, China, which is the eighth operational drug product facility in the global network of WuXi Biologics.
The 12,000m² drug product facility, called DP2, features a state-of-the-art isolator filling line for the continuous high-speed production of wide size range – from 2R to 50R of liquid and 20m2/40m2 of lyophilization. Leveraging its innovative design, the facility can switch rapidly between different specifications to maximize its filling efficiency, providing flexible drug product manufacturing solutions to meet customers’ needs. DP2 will increase up to 60 million vials for commercial drug production of biologics per year. This facility serves as an example of WuXi Biologics’ implementation of single-use technology as it utilizes disposable peristaltic pump filling systems and sterile filtration systems in pre-use post sterilization integrity testing (PUPSIT), which meet current and evolving global regulatory requirements.
With its advanced layout and equipment, the facility effectively eliminates cross-contamination and ensures product sterility while accelerating drug product services across multiple modalities – such as monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics and fusion proteins – and enables the company to initiate any client project within four weeks. The application of both single-use and stainless-steel formulation systems helps reduce energy consumption, resulting in greater productivity and lowered environmental impact.
In addition, WuXi Biologics has also launched the GMP operation of a new Drug Product Packaging Center (DPPC) which includes the company’s first fully automated vial packaging line. This packaging line is designed to meet U.S. FDA, EMA and China’s NMPA GMP requirements and will leverage new technologies – including anti-forgery drug tracking as well as automatic intelligent labeling and packaging – to not only provide customized end-to-end manufacturing services for clients, but also accelerate the process of high-volume clinical and commercial projects.
Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, commented, “We’re excited about the successful GMP launch of the first fully automated vial packaging line as well as DP2, the largest commercial drug product facility at WuXi Biologics. These will allow us to further provide high-yield, high-efficiency, and high-quality drug product services to support our global clients’ clinical trials, product registration, and commercial authorization.”
Dr. Chen said, “Our business strategy in both building and acquiring new facilities has been driven by global customer demand and the robust biologics market. Expanding our capacity and capabilities around the world embodies our commitment to our customers as they pursue innovative ideas and achieve advances that benefit patients worldwide. As a contributor to the global healthcare industry, WuXi Biologics is committed to making more high-quality biologics available and affordable for patients in need.”
About WuXi Biologics
WuXi Biologics, a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. The company’s history and achievements demonstrate its commitment to providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and strong value proposition to its global clients.
The company is currently conducting on behalf of its clients and partners (as of June 30, 2021) a total of 408 integrated projects, including: 212 in pre-clinical development stage; 160 in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development; 32 in late-phase (phase III) development; and 4 in commercial manufacturing. With a total estimated capacity exceeding 430,000 liters for biopharmaceutical production planned after 2024 in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany, and Singapore, WuXi Biologics will continue to provide its biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network.
WuXi Biologics views Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities as an integral component of its ethos and business strategy and aims to become a global ESG leader in biologics manufacturing. We use next-generation clean biomanufacturing technologies and utilize cleaner energy sources. We have also established an ESG committee led by the CEO to increase efficiency while advancing our commitment to sustainability.
