SGS invests £7.6m to up testing capabilities
The investment – supported in part by a £1.7m grant from the Scottish Enterprise Research and Development – expands the company’s capacity for testing cell banks and routine bulk harvest for vaccines, gene and cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and other recombinant protein-based biological medicines, according to SGS.
The inspection, verification, testing, and certification company has added 1,200 square meters to its existing facility, which now spans 2,400 square meters and 65 employees.
The new lab will be adjacent to its global center of excellence for cell banks and viral vaccine biosafety.
SGS also will develop and validate new cell-based viral detection systems at the site, in accordance with US and European Pharmacopeia requirements.
“As the pharmaceutical industry becomes increasingly focused on large molecule biologics, vaccines, gene and cell therapies, SGS continues to increase its service capacity and capabilities in this area,” said Archie Lovatt, SGS scientific director in a press release.
