Emergent BioSolutions has unveiled plans to strengthen its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) capabilities by expanding into viral vector and gene therapy. The company will invest $75 million in its Canton, MA facility, which is focused on the development and manufacturing of drug substance for live viral vaccines, including the company’s smallpox vaccine.

“Emergent’s expansion into advanced therapy CDMO services is based on our biologics expertise and a strong understanding of our customers’ current and future needs,” said Sean Kirk, executive vice president, manufacturing and technical operations, Emergent BioSolutions. “We are investing in our people, plants, and products to meet the growing demand for precision treatments and to help get these therapies to patients.”

The investment will include a state-of-the-art, multi-suite operation up to 1000L scale. Emergent’s infrastructure and proven track record in development, manufacturing, and commercialization of solutions that address public health threats provide the foundation for differentiated services.

“We are energized by the continued growth of our CDMO offerings and this new focus on advanced therapies,” said Syed Husain, senior vice president and CDMO business unit head, Emergent. “As a leading CDMO service provider, our goal is to support the needs of industry and fellow innovators in line with our mission - to protect and enhance life.”

The company plans to provide full molecule-to-market CDMO services for viral vector and gene therapy innovators, by offering development services out of its Gaithersburg location, drug substance manufacturing out of Canton, and drug product manufacturing at its Rockville location, which is in the midst of a recently announced significant expansion that is scheduled to be operational at the end of 2021.

Emergent’s CDMO business has the capability to work with five technology platforms—mammalian, microbial, live viral, advanced therapy, and plasma—across a network of nine development and manufacturing sites, to support the entire drug development life cycle.

The addition of advanced therapy scale to the Canton facility will build upon its biologics platforms and will complement existing capabilities related to the company’s smallpox vaccine.