The fundraising phase of the project will take approximately 18 months and the remaining investment will take place over two additional planned expansion phases.

Architectural rendering of Audentes Therapeutics new gene therapy manufacturing facility planned in Sanford, NC. Image courtesy of Audentes Therapeutics.

Audentes, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical developer Astellas Pharma, focuses on developing adeno associated virus (AAV)-based genetic medicines. Its extensive gene therapy portfolio targets rare neuromuscular diseases. The company uses its AAV gene therapy platform and manufacturing expertise in three areas: gene replacement, vectorized exon skipping, and vectorized RNA knockdown.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce, along with other partners, led the state's support for the company's decision to build. The facility will create over 200 new jobs in Lee County in North Carolina.