BRISTOL, PA — Abzena has unveiled a $5 million investment to enhance its Bristol, Pennsylvania facility, specializing in bioconjugate development and cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing. This substantial financial infusion is aimed at expanding laboratory space, integrating state-of-the-art equipment, and upgrading facilities to bolster the site’s bioconjugation capabilities and meet rising customer demand.
The expansion includes a significant upgrade to the Quality Control (QC) and analytical laboratory layouts and technologies, which is expected to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Notably, the investment encompasses the addition of five Waters Arc Premier LC Systems and two ACQUITY Premier Chromatography Systems, designed to ensure consistent and reliable product analysis throughout all phases of development, from initial stages through to cGMP release and stability testing.
In a parallel stride to augment its analytical prowess, Abzena has also procured a Sartorius Hipersep® Flowdrive Pilot System, a cutting-edge purification system engineered for high-pressure operations up to 100 bars. This system is poised to revolutionize the purification process for clinical manufacturing batches, enabling rapid isolation of desired compounds and significantly increasing production efficiency.
Moreover, the Bristol site has undergone extensive renovations beyond the laboratory, including new flooring, modern lighting systems, and refreshed communal spaces, underscoring Abzena’s commitment to not only advancing its operational capabilities but also enhancing the workplace environment for its employees.
Ian Glassford, Vice President and Bristol Site Head, commented on the upgrades, stating, “The integration of advanced chromatography systems alongside the Sartorius Hipersep® Flowdrive marks a significant leap forward in our operational capabilities. These enhancements allow us to better support customer programs and reflect our dedication to fostering a positive work environment for our team.”
Matt Stober, CEO of Abzena, highlighted the broader strategic implications of the investment, noting, “This initiative underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality programs for our customers, offering them the best chances of downstream success. The growing demand for bioconjugate and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs in development pipelines has prompted us to continue investing in our facilities to provide cost and time efficiencies, thereby accelerating the delivery of these critical programs to patients.”
With additional investments planned for both development and manufacturing areas at the Bristol facility throughout 2024, Abzena is poised for continued growth and innovation. This expansion not only reinforces the company’s leadership in bioconjugate and ADC development but also highlights the escalating importance of these therapies in the biopharmaceutical landscape, promising new avenues for patient treatment and care.
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