Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) continues to expand its global cell therapy manufacturing network, today announcing the launch of a new U.S.-based manufacturing facility and operations in Libertyville, Illinois.
This new facility, following the completion of an agreement with Novartis, has the capability to produce viral vectors for Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR T cell therapies. This exciting development furthers the company’s mission to provide innovative solutions for cell therapy.
Bristol Myers Squibb is excited to welcome the operations and employees of Libertyville to its expanding global cell therapy manufacturing network. With the addition of an on-site facility for viral vector production, the company is able to manufacture the latest generation of vector technology and increase future capacity.
Executive Vice President Karin Shanahan stated, “This gives us the ability to stay at the forefront of cell therapy manufacturing and ensure that we can meet the needs of our customers.”
Cell therapies are revolutionizing the way we treat cancer – and the demand for viral vectors is skyrocketing. To keep up with the growing demand for these therapies, Bristol Myers Squibb has adopted a dual-sourcing vector strategy to ensure reliable delivery of their CAR T cell therapies and make them more accessible to eligible patients.
The process of manufacturing cell therapies is both technically and operationally complex, since they are designed uniquely for each individual patient, and include their own T cells as the starting material.
At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are committed to providing transformative treatments to as many patients as possible. To that end, we are pleased to announce our decision to bring viral vector production in-house.
This will allow us to strengthen our position as a leader in cell therapy and provide more patients with access to our groundbreaking treatments. We are confident that these therapies will provide immense value to those who receive them, and we are excited to make them available to even more people in need.
Our company is constantly striving to identify new ways to increase the reliability of its life-changing cell therapy treatments. To that end, we recently opened a state-of-the-art facility in Libertyville, Illinois.
This new addition joins our existing network of three premier cell therapy manufacturing sites in Bothell, Washington; Warren, New Jersey; and Summit, New Jersey. We are also in the process of constructing two additional manufacturing sites in Devens, Massachusetts, and Leiden, Netherlands.
Bristol Myers Squibb is set to acquire a new U.S. facility by the end of 2023, pending the completion of all necessary closing conditions. This transition will mark a new chapter for the company and its customers, as they benefit from the facility’s enhanced capabilities.
About Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, dedicated to creating new and groundbreaking treatments that improve the lives of those affected by serious diseases. With a commitment to research and development, Bristol Myers Squibb is at the forefront of discovering, developing, and delivering life-saving medicines.