May 11, 2020 -- Thermo Fisher Scientific is expanding its viral vector development and manufacturing services with construction of a new commercial manufacturing site in Plainville, MA. The $180 million facility will more than double the company's current commercial viral vector capacity and support its growing gene therapy and vaccine business.
Construction of the 290,000 sq ft site is expected to be completed in 2022. The site will offer flexible and scalable laboratory and production suites with adjacent warehousing and office space. An on-site engineering laboratory will enable customers to rapidly transition to commercial-scale operations when they are ready.
The project will add over 200 jobs in the state and will complement the company's other assets in Lexington and Cambridge, MA, and Alachua, FL. The expansion project is part of Thermo Fisher's "start here, stay here" strategy to bring development and commercialization efforts to the U.S.
"Between Plainville and our other expanded sites in the U.S., we're increasing viral vector production to accelerate cell and gene therapy innovation, giving hope to more patients everywhere," said Michel Lagarde, executive vice president of Thermo Fisher Scientific.