Fujifilm Pharma Factory Opens with J&J, Regeneron Partnership

fujifilm Biotechnologies’ New Manufacturing Plant in Holly Springs, North Carolina

Fujifilm Biotechnologies⁣ has opened a new biologics⁤ manufacturing plant in Holly Springs, North ⁤Carolina, featuring a hallway spanning the length of⁢ three football fields connecting its four buildings. The first two buildings ⁤are slated ‍to open this fall, producing drug substance for initial customers Regeneron and Johnson & Johnson.The remaining two facilities are scheduled for completion in 2028.

The project, spanning five⁣ years and costing over $3 billion, comes at a time when President Donald trump is proposing tariffs ‍on pharmaceuticals to incentivize domestic production.Though, FujifilmS plans where initiated prior to these tariff discussions.

Fujifilm CEO Lars Petersen emphasized the complexity of⁢ pharmaceutical manufacturing, highlighting the need for safety, high technology, cleanliness, and rigorous documentation and approval processes.

The Trump management ⁣recently clarified that pharmaceuticals from the European Union would be subject ⁤to a 15% tariff under its trade framework, perhaps lessening the impact of broader tariff threats.

Fujifilm’s approach of replicating its ⁢existing ⁤plant in Denmark is designed‍ to accelerate the construction process. The facility is expected to have the capacity‍ to produce 50 million doses of medicine a year with 16 bioreactors capable of ⁣holding ⁤ 20,000 liters each, focusing on the production of monoclonal antibodies. A single batch of drug substance takes almost two months to produce, and even minor contamination can result in the loss of an entire batch.

Regeneron has signed a $3 billion, 10-year contract with Fujifilm for space at the Holly Springs site, effectively doubling its U.S. manufacturing capacity. Len Schleifer,Regeneron’s⁤ CEO,noted the advantage of utilizing Fujifilm’s pre-existing infrastructure rather than building a new facility from scratch. Regeneron also manufactures drugs at facilities in Ireland and⁤ is⁢ expanding its U.S. presence with new plants in New York.

The number of U.S. biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities has increased by more than 50% as [date not specified in text].