Brammer Bio Establishes Dedicated Late Phase Development and Commercial Manufacturing Facility for Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies in Lexington, Mass.

Brammer Bio Establishes Dedicated Late Phase Development and Commercial Manufacturing Facility for Advanced Cell and

Gene Therapies in Lexington, Mass.

50,000 square foot facility to be purpose built-out for manufacture of cell and gene therapies.

Brammer Bio is Manufacturing Personalized™

BIO International, San Francisco, CA (USA) - Lexington, MA and Alachua, FL (USA) - June 8, 2016 - Brammer Bio, the best-in-class cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, is proud to announce plans to build-out a 50,000 sq. ft. facility dedicated to late phase development, including Phase III and commercial production of viral vector-based and cell-based advanced therapies. The facility will be qualified and operational by Q2 of 2017.

“We’re delighted to bring to reality full scale gene and cell therapy production in Massachusetts to serve the needs of our clients,” Brammer Bio President and CEO Mark Bamforth said.  After completing a merger with Florida Biologix in March of 2016, the cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) will further solidify its leading technical and operational supply position through the build-out of the Lexington, MA, facility.

Massachusetts State Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash, was present at the announcement at BIO International, the large annual conference and exposition of the Biotechnology Industry Association being held in San Francisco and commented, “Massachusetts possesses a unique combination of assets that make us a world-leader in life sciences: unbeatable talent, a robust ecosystem and exceptional institutions. Brammer Bio will be right at home in the Commonwealth, adding their expertise to the mix of world-class companies that already call Massachusetts home," said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash.

“We welcome Brammer Bio to the growing life sciences manufacturing sector in Massachusetts,” said Travis McCready, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.  “Massachusetts is the global leader in the developing field of viral vector manufacuturing, and a state where life sciences products can come full cycle, through development, manufacturing, and commercialization.  We look forward to the opening of Brammer Bio’s new facility, and the increased manufacturing capacity it will add to our life sciences ecosystem in Massachusetts.

Brammer Bio is building on Florida Biologix’s ten-year track record of  manufacturing and testing to support clinical trials of advanced therapeutics. Florida Biologix was founded by Brammer Bio’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Richard Snyder, who has gained unparalled expertise  through his 30 year career establishing cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The addition of largescale and latestage manufacturing at the Lexington, MA, facility, in conjunction with the early clinical focus of the Florida location, provides clients with the start-to-finish capability of manufacturing and testing advanced cell and gene therapies.

According to Dr. Snyder, “The Lexington facility will be equipped for largescale manufacturing with a focus on compliance in these emerging drug categories,  providing a reliable supply of high quality advanced therapies to our clients who are bringing their products to market.”

Brammer Bio is looking to grow the Lexington workforce by up to 200, employing engineers and scientists, along with specialists in jobs adding to the biotech industry’s growth in Massachusetts.

“We are excited to access the strong talent pool in Massachusetts and to work in close proximity with many of our clients as they develop cutting-edge therapies,” said Steve Kasok, Brammer Bio’s Chief Financial Officer.

By creating hightech jobs and establishing largescale manufacturing for novel cell and gene therapies, Brammer Bio is positioned to be a leading player in the supply of these new drugs. More than $50 million USD will be invested in the complete staffing and build-out of operations.

“On behalf of MassBio and its more than 750 member organizations, I am thrilled to welcome Brammer Bio to Massachusetts,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, the life sciences trade organization. “With the depth of experience from the Brammer leadership team and the company’s focus on developing and manufacturing the newest technologies, I know the Lexington facility will be a great addition to our worldleading life sciences cluster.”

Brammer Bio is focused on providing clinical and commercial supply of autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, and viral vector products for in vivo and ex vivo therapeutic applications, along with process and analytical development, and regulatory support enabling large pharma and biotech clients to accelerate the delivery of novel medicines and improve patient health.