AstraZeneca Buys Second Amgen Biologics Manufacturing Facility
AstraZeneca has purchased a second biologics manufacturing facility in Longmont, Colorado from Amgen that will be used to support AstraZeneca’s existing operations at its nearby Boulder, Colorado site. AstraZeneca first purchased the Boulder facility from Amgen in September of 2015. Financial terms of both acquisitions were not disclosed.
The integration of the two manufacturing facilities will provide AstraZeneca and MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm, with flexible biological manufacturing capacity for new treatments, AstraZeneca said. The site will be staffed over time and according to business needs as the company’s pipeline matures and expansions are deemed necessary.
The Amgen facilities add to the expansion of AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing capabilities, following the planned biologics manufacturing investment in Sweden, announced in May 2015, and the expansion in Frederick, Maryland, announced in November 2014.
Currently, the Boulder facility is undergoing refurbishment and infrastructure improvements. Once complete, the site is expected to be operational and licensed for commercial production by late 2017, providing for additional capacity within the company’s biologics operations.
The facility will eventually double AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing capacity in the US. Currently biologics make up 50% of the company’s pipeline with more than 120 ongoing programs, including over 30 in clinical development. In the longer- term, the Boulder site could create up to 400 highly skilled jobs, subject to relevant approvals by the local authorities.
Source: AstraZeneca