Repligen to up column production on back of ‘milestone year for chromatography’
Repligen Corporation reported 2016 product revenue of $104m (€98m), up 25% year-on-year.
The firm attributed the growth, in part, to the success of its OPUS range of chromatography equipment, reporting particular demand for its 45 and 60 centimetre disposable columns.
“2016 was a milestone year for the chromatography business and for OPUS in general,” CEO Tony told stakeholders on a recent conference call, adding “our number one goal last year was to drive down lead times as the demand went up significantly.”
As such, the Massachusetts-based bioprocessing tech and antibody capturing media firm added new production lines in 2016 and, according to spokeswoman Sondra Newman, will have more than trebled capacity by the end of this month.
“At the beginning of 2016, we had two OPUS packing suites, and we added three more during the year to meet increased demand,” she told Biopharma-Reporter. “We are now adding two additional suites – in Q1 2017 – for a total of seven.”
The additional lines allow more flexibility for Repligen’s larger customers, the firm said, with the potential for each suite to be used for specific accounts and opportunities that arise with short lead times.
The expansions occurred at Repligen’s facility in Waltham, Massachusetts, and according to Newman attributed to increased capital expenditures and working capital requirements of $2-$3m for 2016, which included the addition of new staff members.
But there are also plans to add lines in Europe, she continued.
“[We are] considering adding OPUS suites in Weingarten, Germany, as that facility will be moved to a larger space in 2017. We will evaluate and make that decision later this year.”
