Chinese drugmaker General Biol has chosen Cytiva’s single-use Flex-Factory platform to support oligonucleotide production. The deal, of which financial details have not been disclosed, sees Cytiva provide General Biol with its integrated FlexFactory single-use  platform. This includes an OligoProcess nucleic acid synthesis system, ÄKTA Process explosion-proof purification system, and a Uniflux explosion-proof tangential flow ultrafiltration system. “A FlexFactory is a biomanufacturing platform that supports different types of manufacturing processes,” a spokesperson for Cytiva told us. “It is configurable with respect…

Moderna is reportedly eyeing up the UK as its next location for an mRNA manufacturing and research facility. Moderna has already laid down plans for messenger RNA (mRNA) manufacturing facilities in Australia, Canada and Africa. Now, the Financial Times (FT) has reported that the US firm, which sprang to the forefront of biopharma on the back of the success of its COVID-19 vaccine, is in “late discussions” with the UK government to build a plant and collaborate with the NHS…

Through the construction of a $700 million site in the Boston Seaport area, Eli Lilly aims to advance RNA based therapeutics. The facility, which will be known as the Lilly Institute for Genetic Medicine is part of the firm’s strategy to develop RNA based therapeutics using DNA-based technologies that can treat or prevent diseases that is difficult or not possible with traditional medicines. “The Institute will pair cutting-edge technologies with Lilly’s deep biological expertise in neuroscience, immunology, diabetes, and other…

Ori Biotech says its paperless platform eliminates waste and reduce costs, which could potentially improve patient access to cell therapies. The London-based firm Ori Biotech formed in 2019 with a main goal of enabling extensive patient access for CGT therapies through its scalable bioreactor and fluid handling platform, which hopes to to automate, digitize, and standardize CGT production. The platform remains in stealth mode. However, this has not put off investors who backed the company’s $100 million Series B funding…

BioNTech has introduced a container solution for its mRNA manufacturing strategy to improve vaccine supply in Africa. The German biotech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rwandan government and Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal in October 2021 to start building a messenger RNA (mRNA) plant this summer. This week, in what the firm dubbed a “high-level” meeting at its Marburg, Germany facility, BioNTech presented a container solution named BioNTainer to various key partners. A BioNTainer is a…

Catalent could potentially invest $350 million to expand its Bloomington, Indiana plant adding 1000 jobs at the site by 2026. According to various publications, including B Square Bulletin, contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) Catalent is looking to spend $350 million at its Bloomington, Indiana facility with the City of Bloomington supposedly offering the firm millions of dollars in tax breaks. The city council is said to have unanimously voted in favour of the tax breaks this Wednesday, but a further…