In addition to the R&D centre, the new building will house departments currently located at its headquarters in neighbouring Santa Ana. Irvine said the reorganisation will enable it to “expand other capabilities, such as media customization.”
COO Tim Mullane said the new space will allow “us to expand our space and staff dedicated to advancing cell culture technology important.”
The expansion plan follows a number of product launches.
In July last year, Irvine launched a medium for neuronal cells for pharmaceutical firms developing regenerative medicines and drugs for central nervous system disorders.
A month later it released BalanCD HEK293, a system designed to increase viral vector and recombinant protein production yields.
The technology comprises a chemically defined media that supports the growth of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, which can be used for the production of proteins and gene therapy vectors.
It is designed to be used to support growth of the cell lines before and after transfection – in other systems media but be changed after genetic material has been inserted.
In January, Irvine rolled out a chemically-defined, animal component-free medium for T cell culture.
Last month, Irvine launched a serum-free, xeno-free basal medium designed for the expansion of hematopoietic progenitors for customers working with HSPCs.