Chinese contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) WuXi Biologics has initiated construction of a 60,000 square metre ADC solution centre near Shanghai, China.
ADCs are composed on an antibody linked to an active cytotoxic payload. Traditionally, ADCs have been used to target and kill cancer cells, but are also being developed to target antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory targets.
The $20m (€17.2m) facility – first announced in December 2017 – will offer services from "concept to commercialisation" for biologics conjugates, including ADCs and other protein conjugates, when it opens next year.
According to the firm, the site will become a "world-class" ADC research and development and manufacturing platform, which aims meet US, EU and Chinese current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards.
“In collaboration with chemistry division of WuXi AppTec Group, WuXi Biologics is one of the few global companies that can provide the one-stop service to global partners for antibodies, small molecule payloads, ADC drug substance and drug products,” CEO Chris Chen said in a statement yesterday.
The centre will join WuXi Biologics’ single-use mammalian cell culture site, monoclonal antibody (mAb) continuous process laboratory, and WuXi AppTec’s antibody discovery and development laboratory in Wuxi city.
Earlier this year, WuXi Biologics announced plans to expand manufacturing for clinical and commercial production in Northern China, Ireland, Singapore, and the US.