The CDMO's fivefold capacity increase will provide early preclinical through to commercialisation support

Spain's first specialist of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy production, Viralgen has opened its new expanded manufacturing facility in the Basque Country.

The new facility, which is located in the same technology park as the company's existing site, extends Viralgen's capabilities enabling it to offer commercial-scale services.

Equipment validation and facility certification activities will continue throughout 2021 with the first commercial-grade 2,000-L batches due to be released by the middle of next year.

The €70-million facility represents the first phase of a wider €120-million investment, which includes another two new facilities.

According to the company, the commercial facility will create 130 "highly qualified" jobs, bringing its team to 250 in 2022.

Last year, Viralgen was acquired by Bayer, upon closing of the acquisition of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, including its gene therapy platform.

Wolfram Carius, Executive Vice President for Cell & Gene Therapies at Bayer said the CDMO will be instrumental to the development of Bayer's growing cell and gene therapy business.

Since 2018, the CDMO has provided customers with preclinical to Phase II support.