Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ UK Site Receives Renewed MHRA Manufacturing Licence

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has received a renewal of its Manufacturer’s Licence from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The Licence authorises commercial manufacturing at the company’s Billingham, UK site, and was received with zero critical or major observations.

The Inspection included the company’s new cGMP mammalian cell culture manufacturing facility, which is on schedule for imminent commissioning. This facility, which will primarily utilise single-use technologies, has been designed with input from regulatory authorities, in particular the MHRA, and key customers to offer high flexibility for meeting customers’ needs. It will initially offer 200 L and 1000 L single-use bioreactors, with 2000 L bioreactors already planned for 2014. The company announced that the cGMP Cell Banking Facility, which forms part of the larger plant, was fully commissioned in April 2013, and has already processed its first cell banks.

The Licence also covers commercial manufacturing of microbial-based biologics in the company’s large-scale manufacturing assets. The company currently has FDA-approval for manufacture of two commercial products in these facilities.

Steve Bagshaw, Managing Director of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ UK site said: “We are delighted to have received a renewal of our Manufacturer’s Licence from the MHRA. Our customers can be assured that this demonstrates our commitment to quality and ultimately patient care, and confirms our position as a top player in the CMO field for both microbial and mammalian biopharmaceuticals.”