Fujifilm Biotechnologies celebrated the grand opening of its expanded site in Teesside, UK. Funded through a total investment of approximately £400m ($545m) from Fujifilm Corp., Japan, the expansion reportedly includes the opening of the largest single-use biopharmaceutical CDMO facility in the UK, located at the existing Fujifilm Biotechnologies site.
The UK expansion represents the newest addition to Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ global manufacturing network and introduces 2,000 L and 5,000 L single-use bioreactors with a total capacity up to 19,000 L to provide small- and mid-scale antibody manufacturing, with the flexibility to expand to support customer programs as needed. The 110,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility will be operational in the first half of 2026.
In parallel, the opening of the Bioprocess Innovation Centre UK (BIC UK) will serve as a high-tech laboratory for both high-throughput and continuous process development capabilities and operate as a global center of excellence for biomanufacturing innovation and process development. The over 102,200 sq. ft. facility doubles the campus’ existing lab footprint and complements the sites’ expanded Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing capabilities.
Together, these investments enhance the supply chain agility of the company’s global manufacturing network and expand its capacity to develop and produce complex medicines for conditions including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare disorders for world-leading biopharmaceutical companies, according to a company spokesperson.
Through Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ kojoX
modular approach to biomanufacturing, a strategic global initiative to harmonize technology, equipment, systems and processes, the expanded UK operations will align with Fujifilm’s biomanufacturing facility in Toyama, Japan, enabling rapid and seamless technology transfer capabilities, said Toshihisa Iida, director, corporate vice president, general manager of life sciences strategy headquarters and Bio CDMO division, Fujifilm, and chairman, Fujifilm Biotechnologies.
“Over the past decade, Fujifilm has invested more than £5 billion globally to grow our CDMO,” continued Iida.
“This site provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners with enhanced scalability, speed to market, and cross-site technology transfer, helping to ensure reliable medicine supply for patients in the UK and globally,” said Lars Petersen, president and CEO, Fujifilm Biotechnologies.
“This represents the first small and mid-scale manufacturing site in our global kojoX ecosystem, which provides our partners with supply chain flexibility and agility. In leveraging kojoX across our sites, we are creating a framework where our partners can easily scale up and out from process development through clinical and commercial.”
“Through academic partnerships with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, and the University of York, we are building talent in STEM and advanced manufacturing, supporting the life sciences ecosystem, and nurturing the next generation of life science specialists to make a difference,” added Jonathan Haigh, senior vice president, head of UK Site, Fujifilm Biotechnologies.
As part of Fujifilm Holdings’ sustainability goals, the new manufacturing building will be fully electrified and will maximize the use of renewable energy going forward.
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