Sartorius establishes competence center for manufacturing components for cell and gene therapies in Freiburg
Freiburg, Germany, September 19, 2023
- Manufacture of quality-critical materials for the fast-growing and increasingly relevant market segment of cell and gene therapies
- Groundbreaking event in the Haid-Süd industrial park with around 150 guests
- Total investment of around 140 million euros
- Number of jobs can be more than doubled
©Margrit Mueller
The life science group Sartorius is building a new center of excellence for the development and production of quality-critical materials for the cell and gene therapy market in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, at a cost of approximately 140 million euros. The symbolic laying of the foundation stone on September 19, 2023, in the presence of around 150 guests marked the start of a significant expansion of the existing production, as well as research and development activities at the site. In Freiburg, Sartorius manufactures quality-critical materials such as cytokines or growth factors for the production of cell and gene therapeutics. Completion of the building is scheduled for 2025; production is expected to start in 2026. In the course of the expansion, the number of employees at the Freiburg site can be increased from currently around 90 to up to 190.
The new building will include production rooms and laboratories with a gross floor area of almost 10,000 square meters. In addition, there will be further areas, for example for technology and offices. The building will be operated in a CO2-neutral manner, among other things through the use of geothermal energy for heating, cold well water for cooling, photovoltaic power generation and a green facade.
"Growth factors and cell culture media play an essential role in the production of cell and gene therapies. The significant expansion of manufacturing capacity in Freiburg will help us to support our customers even better in developing and producing modern drugs. With the intended gold certification for sustainable construction, the site will set standards for our industry in terms of sustainability. I would like to thank the regional council and the city of Freiburg, as well as all other parties involved, for their smooth cooperation in the run-up to the project," said René Fáber, Head of the Bioprocess Solutions Division and member of the Executive Board of Sartorius.
In 2021, Sartorius acquired a majority stake in CellGenix GmbH, which was founded in 1994 at the Freiburg University Medical Center, employs about 70 people and is headquartered in Freiburg, and announced its intention to significantly expand the site.
