Scheduled to be completed by January 2017, the new facility is claimed to be the largest mammalian cell culture manufacturing facility using disposable bioreactors in the world.
The new biologics manufacturing facility will support the company’s strong biologics manufacturing pipeline in the near term as well as helps in maintaining its position as the premier biologics manufacturer in China.
It will house 14 2000l disposable bioreactors for fed-batch cell culture and two 1000l bioreactors for perfusion runs.
In addition to traditional fed-batch and perfusion modes, the new facility will also be used to run advanced continuous or semi-continuous manufacturing processes.
WuXi PharmaTech chairman and CEO Dr Ge Li said: "Investment in this state-of-the-art biologics commercial facility of the future is another milestone for WuXi Biologics.
"This project continues to strengthen WuXi’s capabilities in integrated biologics discovery, development, and manufacturing services.
"We maintain the highest quality standards to expedite global development of biologics for both international clients and Chinese companies."
In August 2012, the company completed a biologics clinical drug substance and drug product manufacturing facilities in Wuxi city, the first in China that met cGMP standards of the US, the EU and China.