Biomanufacturing & Bioprocessing
The region has one of the greatest concentrations of facilities, skills and expertise in the whole of Europe, spreading from early stage development capability to in-market supply, based particularly around Speke near Liverpool.
Eli Lilly in Speke. This is the site of the UK's largest bulk biotechnology facility. Eli Lilly's products include the human growth hormone (Humantrope®), and Capreomycin, a last line defence for TB. This site also manufactures veterinary medicines under Lilly's Elanco brand.
Novartis Vaccines in Speke manufactures an extensive range of products including: Begrivac™, the first preservative-free vaccine; Encepur™, a vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis; and Fluvirin™, a triple-antigen flu vaccine, approved for sale in more than 20 countries.
MedImmune(now part of AstraZeneca) in Speke is focused on using biotechnology to produce innovative products and this site provides a significant volume of their biomanufacturing capability for Flumist™.
As the Speke cluster is so strong in biologics manufacturing, it is the ideal location for the National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC). The NBC provides access to premium quality research and development materials produced by bioprocessing. This national facility will carry out the initial manufacture of biopharmaceuticals for early trials and is due to open in Speke, early 2006.
Genencor in Stockport, Manchester. This is their first UK office. Genencor is a diversified biotechnology company with over $410 million in 2004 revenues. Genencor focuses on two markets: bioproducts and healthcare.
Avecia Biotechnology in Manchester. With its headquarters in the region, Avecia is a world leader in advanced medicines production, including DNA medicines, peptide pharmaceuticals and biologics. It has production facilities in the North East of England.
GlaxoSmithKline in Ulverston, Cumbria was the GSK Centre of Excellence for Bioprocessing. This 65 acre site has been producing fermentation products since 1948 including: penicillin, cephalosporin, griseofulvin, vitamin B12, barley beta-glucanase and amylase. The site produces a number of intermediates for GSK products.
Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and
Biocatalytic Manufacture (CoEBio3) at University of
Manchester. CoEBio3 is a collaboration across a number of
UK universities, with a hub and significant research based in
Manchester.
Neutec Pharma (now part of Novartis). This biopharmaceutical
company specialises in the development of gentically recombinant
antibodies or 'grabs' for the treatment of life threatening
infectious diseases. Products include Mycorab® and
Aurograb®.
Protherics in Cheshire. This research and development site focuses on bio-therapeutics with products such as Crofab™, to treat snakebites.
Partnership For Learning in Speke. This facility was set up by a partnership of major companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Chiron (now Novartis) and Eli Lilly to deliver specific industry training in areas such as GMP and supply chain management. PFL has already delivered a programme of NVQ training to more than 500 biopharma employee's.
