AstraZeneca and its Medimmune business announced plans to expand its biologics manufacturing center in Frederick, Md. and add 300 jobs. Price tag is $200 million. The company earlier announced plans to invest $100 million at its site near Newark. The company employs 2,600 in Delaware.
“Biologics are an important part of AstraZeneca’s overall capabilities, in addition to our strengths in small molecules and protein engineering,” said Andrew D. Skibo, regional vice president of biologics supply for AstraZeneca. “Our global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, has a robust pipeline of more than 120 biologics, including more than 30 in clinical development. The expansion of our Frederick facility will support the progression of drug candidates across our core therapeutic areas, ultimately aiding us in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients through scientific leadership and innovative new treatments.”
AstraZeneca’s Frederick biologics manufacturing center is an FDA licensed, large-scale cell culture production facility. The expansion project, which is anticipated to begin in December and expected to be complete in mid-2017, will add about 40,000 additional square feet of manufacturing, laboratory and administrative space. The expansion is also expected to bring a total of 300 new jobs to the site.
“We’re very pleased by AstraZeneca’s demonstrable commitment to our local workforce and to our growing biotech community,” said Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement. “This expansion will help bring even more high-caliber life science jobs and career opportunities to Frederick and the surrounding region.”
AstraZeneca’s Frederick manufacturing center is the largest biologics manufacturing facility within the company’s global network and portfolio of assets, and a worldwide industry leader in cell culture manufacturing. The site currently produces a pediatric medication, as well as other investigational biologic products.
AstraZeneca has shifted its research and development activity to MedImmune and sold its south campus near Wilmington to JP Morgan Chase. The modernization of the Newark site is not tied to employment expansion, based on releases from the company.
