WuXi Biologics signs land deal to build first US manufacturing facility in Massachusetts biotech hub

$60 million Worcester plant should be operational by 2022 and will employ 150 people

The company said the 107,000-square-foot plant at the Reactory, a 46-acre master-planned biomanufacturing campus, is expected to be operational in 2022 and will create 150 new jobs.

The deal comes nearly two years after WuXi first announced it would invest $60 million in the project, its eleventh global drug substance manufacturing facility.

The facility, which will handle both clinical and small volume commercial production, is designed to run continuous bioprocessing. Approximately 4,500 L bioreactor capacity will be installed with two 2,000 L traditional fed-batch and one 500 L perfusion-based continuous processing. An early-stage bioprocess development lab will also be included.

“WuXi Biologics’ decision to locate its first US biomanufacturing facility in Worcester at The Reactory confirms the value of Worcester’s strong life sciences ecosystem,” said Craig Blais, president and CEO of the WBDC “We expect other biotech manufacturers will soon follow their lead.”

“Drawing from the talented workforce and impressive biotech network in Massachusetts, we stand ready and able to help our global partners advance their innovative and life-saving ideas,” said Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics.

WuXi’s total estimated capacity for biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany and Singapore will exceed 280,000 litres by 2022, the company said.