Emergent BioSolutions Inc. plans to undertake a three-year, $50 million project that will expand the contract development and manufacturing capacity of the company’s Camden fill/finish facility in Baltimore.
Slated for completion in 2021, the expansion project also aims to address redundancies and make the facility more flexible going forward. The project is expected to add up to 60 jobs over three years.
“The expansion of our Camden facility is a significant and impactful capital investment that will generate measurable benefits for our clients,” Sean Kirk, the senior vice president of manufacturing operations and CDMO business unit head. “This investment in innovative and flexible technology not only expands our customer-centric offerings to support future growth, but also builds upon our history of quality to help ensure the utmost focus on patient safety in pursuit of our corporate mission — to protect and enhance life.”
A focus on the project will be the addition of an isolator enclosed fill line. Groninger & Co. will install a FlexPro 50 filler, which is capable of filling vials, syringes and cartridges in a fill suite with dedicated utilities. A second autoclave will also be added to enhance sterilization capacity and address redundancies.
“Emergent has a proven track record as a world-class provider of contract manufacturing services for both bulk drug substances and sterile injectable drug products,” BJ Hull, the vice president, general manager and site head at the Camden facility, said. “This $50 million investment further demonstrates our commitment to meeting and exceeding the expectations of our customers as well as to stimulating economic growth and creating jobs in Baltimore.”
Emergent BioSolutions, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, provides products for civilian and military populations to protect them from accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats.
U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) called the expansion project a testament to Maryland’s biotechnology leadership. “This facility will not only bring jobs to our community and boost our local economy, but also propel new medical advancements that will improve public health across the country,” he said.