MeiraGTx Holdings plc, a vertically integrated, clinical-stage gene therapy company, has announced a multi-million-euro expansion of its Shannon facility.
MeiraGTx has selected Shannon as the site of its second current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility and cGMP plasmid production facility.
Bioprocess scientists, engineers and technicians jobs
The project will lead to the creation of highly skilled biopharma jobs in the region with a team to include bioprocess scientists, engineers and technicians for manufacturing, engineering, technical and quality roles. For more information, please contact info@meiragtx.com
The facilities will be designed for the manufacturing of commercial-grade gene therapies in a fully integrated manner supported by MeiraGTx’s global quality assurance organisation.
MeiraGTx expects the Irish facilities, to provide additional flexibility as well as further large-scale capacity for clinical and commercial supply of its gene therapy product candidates from pre-clinical stages through clinical trials and potential commercialisation.
The plasmid production facility is expected to be operational by year-end 2020, while the viral vector manufacturing facility is expected to be operational by year-end 2021.
The facility at Shannon Freezone Business Park, Co Clare, comprising 8,300m2 in two separate buildings will be designed to meet global regulatory requirements, including the cGMP, required by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Viral vectors for gene therapies
The unit at Shannon will be used for the manufacture of MeiraGTx viral vectors for gene therapies and the plasmid DNA that is one of the starting materials in viral vector production.
Executive director of IDA Ireland Mary Buckley said: "Today's announcement by MeiraGTx is closely aligned with IDA Ireland's strategy for the Life Sciences sector and indeed in winning jobs and investment in regional locations.
"This investment is an emergent area within Biopharma, and strongly endorses the midwest's and Ireland's reputation as a key location for the next generation of biopharmaceutical manufacture."
This project is supported by the government through IDA Ireland.