FDB to triple UK microbial production capacity as Fujifilm commits to $83 million investment
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies will triple microbial production capacity at its UK Teesside facility after joint owner Fujifilm Corporation pledged to invest 9 billion yen (USD83 million) in the biologics focused CDMO.
The expansion – scheduled to be operational by 2022 -- will include a new production line with 2 X 2000L fermenters and a modular purification suite and an upgrade to utilities to make them ready for high volume production.
"Fujifilm has committed to supporting the biopharmaceutical industry and invested aggressively in both capital and technology for producing such as antibodies and gene therapies,” said Takatoshi Ishikawa, executive vice president and general manager of the Bio CDMO Division of Fujifilm.
He added that the expansion was a response to current increased demand for microbial production.
“From our pAVEway expression technology to our commercial capabilities, we are well suited to support customers at all stages of the product development process,” said Paul Found, chief operating officer, FDB, United Kingdom.
Fujifilm said it is targeting sales of 100 billion yen in the Bio CDMO business – which offers both biopharmaceuticals and small molecule pharmaceuticals -- in FY2021.
FDB is a joint venture between Fujifilm and Mitsubishi Corporation and also has sites in Texas and North Carolina in the US and Hillerød, Denmark.
Related News
-
News Federal judge blocks Colorado's unprecedented price cap on Amgen's Enbrel
A US federal court has halted Colorado's attempt to impose a US$31,200 annual price cap on Amgen's arthritis drug Enbrel, ruling that the pharmaceutical company would likely suffer irreparable harm. The decision represents a significant blow to... -
.png)
News Protecting life-saving therapies: CPHI Online Podcast Series
The latest episode of the CPHI Podcast Series dives into a critical challenge facing the pharmaceutical industry: ensuring the integrity of temperature-sensitive medications and biologics through advanced predictive technology.
-
News 2026 Outsourcing Outlook Update - pharma at a crossroads
The pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) sector is experiencing unprecedented transformation, driven by evolving therapeutic complexities, geopolitical tensions, and the growing demand for specialised manufacturing ... -
News Roche maintains German investment commitment whilst rivals scale back
Pharmaceutical giant Roche has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Germany, standing firm even as competitors Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim dramatically reduce their planned investments in response to controversial healthcare reforms.
-
News Women in Pharma: The History of CPHI Women in Japan
Our monthly Women in Pharma series highlights the influential lives and work of impactful women working across the pharmaceutical industry, and how the industry can work towards making the healthcare industry and workplace more equitable and inclusive. -
News EU drafts deal to end essential medicines shortage
European negotiators have agreed new legislation to tackle persistent shortages of essential medicines by prioritising supply security over price in public procurement and supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing with strategic funding.
-
News Thermo Fisher Scientific offloads microbiology business to PE firm Astorg
The life sciences giant is divesting its global microbiology unit, which generated $645 million in revenue last year, to the pan-European private equity firm as part of an active portfolio management strategy. The transaction is expected to close in th... -
News The Shift: Why Sustainability is Moving to the Centre of CPHI Milan 2026
CPHI Online contributor David Roach takes a look at how conversations around sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry can and must be transformed into actionable deliveries, and what the inaugural CPHI Sustainability Summit means for the industry.