In order to provide cell therapies for usage worldwide, Bayer AG has invested USD 250 million in a new manufacturing facility in Berkeley, California, United States.

United States: On Tuesday, 10th October 2023, Bayer AG, launched a new manufacturing facility for cell therapies. The pharmaceutical giant's pipeline of cell therapies is now also being manufactured at its newly constructed 100,000 square foot facility for Phase 2 testing of a cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. For the dilemma among biopharmaceutical companies which it faces as it advances their research into novel cell and gene therapies to create internal production capabilities or outsource the manufacturing of these novel medicines, Bayer opted for the latter for its Berkeley, California location, by inaugurating a new $250 million cell therapy production facility.

The Phase 1 findings for the Bayer Parkinson's cell therapy were released in August, and this was followed by the launch of the new manufacturing facility for the treatment. At one year, Bemdaneprocel, an investigational cell therapy developed by BlueRock Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Bayer, which is currently under evaluation for the treatment of Parkinson's disease has shown to be safe and well tolerated in the open-label study with 12 patients included. Early indications of possible efficacy were also evident from the data, which improved Parkinson's symptom measurements. BlueRock anticipates starting a Phase 2 study in the first half of 2024 as the next step for Bemdaneprocel.

According to the Global Head of Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division., “Our teams are driving innovation in late-stage development and manufacturing with a goal of bringing transformational cell and gene therapies to patients on a global scale, and this facility will enable us to make it real,” Jens Vogel, senior vice president and global head of biotech for Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division, said in a prepared statement. “Bayer is collaborating with biotech innovators, academia, and equipment and automation suppliers to establish platforms that would help bring more therapies to patients faster.”

According to TechSci Research, the inauguration of the new facility is a significant milestone in Bayer's transformation strategy at the biotechnology site in Berkeley as for the past 30 years, Bayer's hemophilia A biotherapeutics have been manufactured and supplied from its Berkeley site, which serves as the company's global commercial supply center. The site's expansion increased its capacity for developing gene and cell therapies. As part of a change at the location, where the pharmaceutical company has committed close to $500 million over the previous five years, Bayer added its new 100,000 square foot cell therapy manufacturing facility for Parkinson's cell therapy. By venturing into the production of cell therapies, Bayer AG is positioning itself at the forefront of innovative treatments in biotechnology. Moreover, it offers a promising avenue for the development of personalized medicine strategies, fostering a more patient-centric approach. With the potential for high efficacy and lower side effects, cell therapies represent a significant growth opportunity for Bayer AG, possibly revolutionizing its product portfolio and strengthening its market position in the pharmaceutical industry. The production of cell therapies has the potential to revolutionize healthcare for patients around the globe, offering innovative treatments for a variety of diseases that are currently difficult to manage. By harnessing the power of the body's own cells, therapies can be tailored to the individual, potentially leading to more effective treatments with fewer side effects. For biotechnology companies, the development and production of cell therapies open up new markets and opportunities for growth. It also positions the global leader of biotechnology companies at the forefront of medical innovation, enabling them to contribute positively to global health outcomes.