Thermo Fisher ups bio capacity to 50kL at expanded Missouri site

Thermo Fisher has expanded its biologics site in St. Louis by adding two manufacturing suites. 

The 58,000 square-foot unit run by CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) division Patheon (acquired in 2017), will support the production of biologics. 

Talking to BioProcess Insider, vice president and general manager of Biologics at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Paul Jorjorian said, “The expansion is reflective of the growth we anticipate in our Biologics business, in particular the growth at our St. Louis site. The new suites are now operational, and we’ve also completed our first engineering run successfully.” 

c/o Thermo Fisher

First announced in 2021, the $82.5 million investment was part of a three-year $4.3 billion capital expenditure plan across the firm’s biopharma services division. Other investments announced at the time included expansions in Singapore, Bedford (Massachusetts), Innchinnan (UK), and Hangzhou (China). 

“The capacity is primarily targeting late phase and commercial production for our customers and what we’ve built reflects the growth we anticipate in the biologics market. By the end of the year, we will have nearly 50,000 L of bioreactor capacity in St. Louis,” Jorjorian added. 

The manufacturing suites contain four Thermo Scientific DynaDrive Single-Use Bioreactors (SUBs), each of which has a processing capacity of 5,000 L. 

Although single-use technologies have been fully embraced by the sector, most manufacturers still rely on systems with a 2,000 L maximum capacity due to existing challenges such as heavier liquids, infrastructural problems, and costs. Thermo Fisher – through its bioprocess equipment division – launched systems with 3,000 L and 5,000 L back in 2021. 

The life sciences services firm, Thermo Fisher intends to create 169 jobs at the facility in St. Louis, despite the fact that it has closed several of its operations, including those in Florida (gene therapy facility), and New Jersey (cell therapy facility).