Report Shows Increase in Capacity in Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing in the UK

Print 12 May 2016
BioPharm International

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult released a review of their third annual survey of GMP cell and gene therapy facilities in the United Kingdom, the company said in a May 5, 2016 press release. The review summarizes the capability and capacity of all cell- and gene-therapy manufacturing facilities in the UK that hold an MHRA-license. The survey, initiated in 2013, has continued annually following a recommendation by the UK government House of Lords 2013-14 Regenerative Medicine report. 

“Ensuring our manufacturing capability and capacity is continuing to grow is critical to the further development of a world leading cell and gene therapy industry for the UK. This is why we were asked by Government to produce these annual reviews, to ensure we are on track,” said Keith Thompson, CEO at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, in a press announcement. “The data in the 2016 report shows growth across all the markers that we analyze and forecasts a considerable increase again in the next 12 months. The opening of our own 7,200m² cell and gene therapy facility in the UK next year will provide a step change to the UKs manufacturing offering that will help deliver revolutionary treatments for patients and assist companies to develop manufacturing in the UK.”

The report highlights a number of changes in the cell and gene therapy manufacturing landscape over the last 12 months. It includes evidence of a continued increase in the number of GMP manufacturing facilities; There were22 facilities in 2016, rising from 18 in 2015 and 13 in 2014. Of these new locations, three are gene therapy manufacturing facilities and one is a new cell therapy facility.

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult also notes there has been an increase in the number of people employed across UK cell and gene therapy manufacturers by an additional 20%—increasing from 324 to 391.

There has also been a larger geographical spread of facilities throughout the UK, the organization said. Some new locations include facilities based in London, Glasgow, Oxford and Birmingham. The organization says there has also been a 9% increase in total cleanroom footprint for cell therapy facilities, now totaling nearly 1900m², whilst gene therapy clean room footprint almost tripled to more than 2400m².

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