UCB to build new biotech manufacturing plant in Belgium
Capacity to serve global late-stage development and commercial manufacturing of monoclonal antibody drug substance to support new product launches.
UCB will build an innovative and environmentally sustainable multi-product biological manufacturing facility on their site in Braine l’Alleud, Wallonia, Belgium. The new biotechnology plant is being constructed to accompany the company’s growth and prepare for the launch and long-term supply of future medicines currently in clinical development.
The new facility, representing an investment of more than 300 million euros over the coming years, is expected to be operational in 2024. Construction is due to start in the first quarter of 2020. The biotechnology plant will be one of the largest and most modern in Belgium.
“The shift of our pipeline towards large molecules requires us to ramp up investment in mammalian technical development, as well as our manufacturing capabilities. We are convinced Braine l’Alleud is an ideal location for the implementation of this large-scale manufacturing facility. And the presence of our Biotech Sciences Team, Bio-Pilot plant and diverse research capabilities on the same site will ensure accelerated product launches and supply reliability,” said Dr Kirsten Lund-Jurgensen, EVP and Head of Supply & Technology at UCB.
Construction of the new biomanufacturing plant will also have a positive effect on employment. UCB is expecting to create more than 150 new, high skilled jobs once the plant becomes fully operational.
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.