Boehringer Ingelheim has initiated a capacity expansion at its commercial manufacturing site for biologics in China. The expansion covers an additional bioreactor and includes all needed utility and infrastructure to support the GMP operations of 2x 2.000L single-use bioreactor manufacturing lines.
The investment will see Boehringer's Oasis facility, located in Shanghai, begin production of commercial supply of a monoclonal antibody in 2019.
This will be the first commercial drug manufactured in the Oasis site, an important part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s global biopharmaceutical production network.
Boehringer said that following the commercial manufacturing of a client’s antibody, other investigational drugs are in its contract manufacturing business pipeline for potential future market launch and commercial supply out of Shanghai, China.
"We look forward to providing our customers with this new source of commercial supply of therapeutic antibodies for their patients," said Dr Jiali Luo, General Manager and Site Head of Boehringer Ingelheim Bio China.
"Additionally, we see a growing demand for world-class manufacturing capacities of biologics and are eager to offer our capabilities to local and global customers according to our site supply mission 'China-for-China' and 'China-for-Global'," he concluded.
Boehringer Ingelheim claims to be China’s first international provider of biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing solutions with all-round services, including process development and product supply for clinical trials and market, to its clients in China and all over the world.
The facility, operated by Boehringer Ingelheim Biopharmaceuticals (China) Ltd, was officially put into operation in May 2017.