AstraZeneca expands US manufacturing footprint to accelerate ambitions in next-generation cell therapy discovery and development

Rhea-AI Summary

AstraZeneca invests $300 million in a new facility in Rockville, MD to launch life-saving cell therapy platforms for cancer trials and future commercial supply, creating over 150 highly skilled jobs. The facility will focus on manufacturing T-cell therapies for clinical trials and may expand to support other disease areas. This investment aims to make next-generation cell therapy a reality, accelerating the company's ambition to meet patient demands. The facility will be located near the company's R&D center and within the booming life sciences corridor in Maryland, providing an attractive environment for talent recruitment. AstraZeneca is building a cell therapy portfolio to empower T-cells to fight cancer more effectively, including CAR-Ts targeting solid tumors and a pipeline of novel T-cell receptor therapies through Neogene Therapeutics.

Insights

Financial Analyst

AstraZeneca's decision to invest $300 million into a new cell therapy facility in Rockville, Maryland, is a strategic move that signals the company's commitment to expanding its oncology portfolio, particularly in the field of cell therapy. This investment is likely to bolster AstraZeneca's competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector, an industry where innovation and speed to market are critical. The creation of over 150 new jobs indicates an expansion that could enhance local economies and potentially lead to increased productivity and innovation within the company.

From a financial perspective, the capital expenditure on this facility will likely impact short-term cash flow, but the long-term benefits could be substantial. As cell therapies represent a frontier in cancer treatment, successful commercialization could lead to significant revenue streams. However, investors should consider the risk associated with the high costs of developing such therapies and the regulatory hurdles they must clear before reaching the market.

Medical Research Analyst

The emphasis on T-cell therapies and the proximity of the new facility to AstraZeneca's R&D center underscores the company's focus on innovation in oncology, particularly in immunotherapy. T-cell therapies, such as CAR-T treatments, are at the forefront of personalized medicine and have shown promise in treating certain types of cancer. AstraZeneca's efforts to expand its cell therapy capabilities could potentially lead to breakthroughs in treating solid tumors, which have been a challenge in the field.

Additionally, the mention of armored autologous CAR-Ts and the development of a library of off-the-shelf T-cell therapies highlight AstraZeneca's strategy to overcome limitations of current therapies and improve patient accessibility. The pipeline of novel T-cell receptor therapies further demonstrates the company's pursuit of a diversified portfolio that could address a range of tumor types and genetic profiles.

Biotechnology Market Analyst

The strategic location of AstraZeneca's new facility within Maryland's life sciences corridor offers access to a rich talent pool and collaborative opportunities with academic institutions, which can be pivotal for innovation and growth in biotechnology. This investment also aligns with the broader trend of biopharmaceutical companies increasing their footprint in cell therapy, a market that is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Given the high demand for cancer treatments and the potential for cell therapies to address unmet medical needs, AstraZeneca's expansion could capture a significant market share. However, it's important to monitor how the company's pipeline progresses through clinical trials and regulatory processes, as these factors will ultimately determine the success of their cell therapy platforms and their impact on the company's market valuation.

New facility in Rockville, Maryland will focus on manufacturing for critical cancer trials and launch of its commercial cell therapy platforms

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca is investing $300 million in a state-of-the-art facility in Rockville, MD to launch its life-saving cell therapy platforms in the US for critical cancer trials and future commercial supply. More than 150 new highly skilled jobs will be created to initially focus on manufacturing T-cell therapies to enable clinical trials to be conducted around the world. Over time, the site may expand its focus to support other disease areas.

New AstraZeneca facility in Rockville, Maryland (Photo: Business Wire)

The site represents the latest investment in cell therapy for AstraZeneca following collaborations with Quell therapeutics, AbelZeta, Cellectis, and the acquisition of Neogene Therapeutics.

Pam Cheng, Executive Vice President of Global Operations & IT and Chief Sustainability Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “We are incredibly excited that more than 150 new highly skilled jobs are being created to bring our scientific work and therapies to clinical trials which could transform the lives of patients around the world. This new $300 million investment will accelerate our ambition to make next-generation cell therapy a reality, ensuring that we are ready to scale and meet the demands of patients.”

The facility in Rockville, MD is located less than five miles away from one of the company’s five global R&D centers and sits within the booming life sciences corridor in Maryland. With close proximity to several universities, the life sciences ecosystem provides an attractive environment for recruiting new and experienced talent.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said: “AstraZeneca and the State of Maryland share a deep commitment to innovation. It makes us the perfect pairing for this next-generation cell therapy facility. This significant investment in our life sciences sector will help maintain Maryland’s leadership in the industry and sharpen our competitive edge. We are deeply grateful for AstraZeneca’s partnership and continued commitment to our state.”

The Rockville facility will join AstraZeneca’s global manufacturing and supply network of nearly 30 manufacturing and supply sites in 16 countries, which are either currently operational or under development across the company. In the US, AstraZeneca’s manufacturing sites focus on the production of small molecules and biologics, harnessing leading pharmaceutical technology and development. Together, the US manufacturing sites employ more than 2,600 full-time employees and deliver more than 9 billion doses of medicines annually.

Notes

AstraZeneca in oncology cell therapy

AstraZeneca is building a cell therapy portfolio that aims to empower and equip the immune system’s T-cells to more effectively fight cancer. The company's research teams are exploring new ways to target and arm CAR-Ts to increase their effectiveness in solid tumors by overcoming the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. Looking to the future, AstraZeneca is working to engineer next-generation cell therapies, where physicians could potentially select from a library of off-the-shelf patient-ready therapies already developed from the cells of healthy donors.

AstraZeneca is advancing multiple armoured autologous CAR-T, including Glypican 3 (GPC3) targeting CAR-Ts in hepatocellular carcinoma. AZD5851, currently in Phase I, is being developed globally, and AZD7003 / C-CAR031 is being co-developed with AbelZeta in China where it is under evaluation in an Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT).

Also, in early development is AZD6422, a novel Claudin 18.2 targeting CAR-T currently being evaluated in solid tumors in an IIT in China, in collaboration with AbelZeta, and AZD0754, a preclinical stage STEAP2 targeting CAR-T that will be investigated in prostate cancer.

Beyond this, the company is advancing a pipeline of novel T-cell receptor therapies (TCR-Ts) through Neogene Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca. This includes NT-125, a fully individualized TCR-T, NT-175, a TP53 mutant targeting TCR-T and NT-112, a KRAS mutant targeting TCR-T, all in Phase I clinical trials in solid tumors.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on social media @AstraZeneca.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240206590080/en/

Media Inquiries

Brendan McEvoy, +1 302 885 2677

US Media Mailbox: usmediateam@astrazeneca.com

 

Source: AstraZeneca

FAQ

What is AstraZeneca's investment in the new facility in Rockville, MD?

AstraZeneca is investing $300 million in the new facility in Rockville, MD.

How many jobs will be created by the new facility?

The new facility will create over 150 highly skilled jobs.

What will be the initial focus of the new facility?

The initial focus of the new facility will be on manufacturing T-cell therapies for clinical trials.

Where is the new facility located?

The new facility is located in Rockville, MD, less than five miles away from one of AstraZeneca's R&D centers.

What is AstraZeneca's cell therapy portfolio focused on?

AstraZeneca's cell therapy portfolio aims to empower T-cells to fight cancer more effectively, including CAR-Ts targeting solid tumors and novel T-cell receptor therapies through Neogene Therapeutics.