The facility – which is due to be operational in 2018 – will produce antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for clinical trials and small scale commercial batches. It will also house R&D technical services and quality control laboratories, warehousing and capacity for process development.
Funding for the plant will be provided by Maven VCTs, Seneca and Finance Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government is also providing ADC with a grant.
The investment marks the Wales-based contractor’s move into clinical and commercial production. Previously, its manufacturing focus has been on the production of ADCs for R&D and preclinical development.
ADC’s core technology is its “lock-release” platform.
It works by covalently ‘locking’ an antibody to solid polymer beads, prior to conjugation, releasing them as a clean drug substance.
ADC claims its technology is used by 20 customers, including several major pharmaceutical firms.
CEO Charlie Johnson said: “We already have confirmation that many of our existing customers will use the facility for clinical development.
“We anticipate adding a number of the new targets entering clinical development from customers in the USA and Europe - especially in light of the added value we can provide through Lock-Release” he added.