Dessau-Rosslau (Germany) – IDT Biologika, a leading, German-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specialized in vaccines, gene and immune therapy as well as oncolytic viruses, is increasing its production capacity.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff visited the pharmaceutical company, inspecting the new high-speed filling line and the premises for future drug substance manufacturing.
"The global pandemic has brought IDT Biologika more into the public spotlight. The vaccine producer from Saxony-Anhalt has a central role to play in combating the pandemic," emphasized Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff.
Haseloff continued: "The pharmaceutical and vaccine industry is a strong economic factor in our state. A long tradition, close links between research and production, and high-performance clusters are what make the location so successful. We want to further expand and push the cooperation between science and industry - of which IDT Biologika is an example - in the interest of Saxony-Anhalt as a science location."
Sustainable investments for the future
The EUR 100 million investment in the expansion is part of a multi-year program to increase manufacturing capacity and capabilities to meet the growing global demand for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals and make an important contribution to safe healthcare.
The investment will create approximately 350 new jobs from 2020 to 2022, as well as space for drug substance manufacturing, aseptic liquid filling, packaging capabilities and automated visual inspection.
The new multifunctional building will be equipped with four 2,000-liter bioreactors. This makes it suitable for high-volume, commercial drug substance production and ensures great flexibility for upstream and downstream processes. The modular design and use of the existing infrastructure will also enable future expansion in the area of active ingredient production by adding two more units with bioreactors. Parallel to this, the new high-speed filling line, the fastest line currently available on the market, was installed in the adjacent building this week.
The new production units will be used to manufacture vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. They will go into operation at the beginning of 2023.
"As the need for development and manufacturing capacity for vaccines and advanced therapies grows, we will continue to invest in these technologies and highly skilled personnel to support our partners in bringing these vital medicines to market," said Dr. Jürgen Betzing, CEO of IDT Biologika. "With the continued growth of our site, we are making a very vital contribution to Saxony-Anhalt's competitiveness in the biotechnology industry. Moreover, we are creating permanent jobs in the region," Betzing continued.
Innovation through the linking of science and production
The close networking of companies and research institutions and the promotion of the transfer of the knowledge gained in the process forms another central prerequisite of innovation.
For example, IDT Biologika is working with the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) to develop its own COVID vaccine. IDT Biologika has gained extensive scientific and technological knowledge in recent months thanks to the research project.
"Through the collaboration with the DZIF scientists, we have gained significant knowledge in terms of development and manufacturing technology. Based on this, we could find answers to future pandemics much faster and, above all, move into commercial production of vaccines even faster. The research project demonstrates very impressively that innovation is created by linking research and application," summarized Dr. Simone Kardinahl, Senior Vice President Development.
Dr. Jürgen Betzing added: "We carry this knowledge from Saxony-Anhalt into the world. We can be proud that, in collaboration with the scientific institutions of the DZIF, we have developed a functioning platform that makes it possible to produce a vaccine in a short time in the event of a pandemic."
Contact IDT Biologika
Corinna Meisel
Corporate Communications Specialist
M +49 (0)173 9249671
corinna.meisel@idt-biologika.de
IDT Biologika GmbH
Am Pharmapark, D-06861 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
