Thermo Fisher Opens New Building at Wisconsin GMP Lab

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Thermo Fisher Scientific announced on June 18, 2024 that its Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) clinical research business opened a new building at its good manufacturing practice (GMP) laboratory in Middleton, Wisconsin (1).

The 72,000-square-foot facility was touted by the company in a press release as an expansion of its clinical research laboratory, increasing the lab’s analytical capacity in the area of chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC).

Currently, the Wisconsin campus is home to nearly 2300 Thermo Fisher employees, and the expansion makes room for up to 350 additional scientists and lab support professionals, something Leon Wyszkowski, president, analytical services, clinical research, said would be reflected in the company’s services to consumers.

“As research in biopharmaceutical therapies continues to rapidly expand, we are excited to expand our overall capacity and capabilities in laboratory services to help our customers deliver therapies that meet the highest quality and safety standards for patients,” Wyszkowski said in the press release. “We will continue to support and empower our customers as they continue to discover, develop, and deliver new groundbreaking therapies. This $58 million investment to expand the site is a testament to our dedication in supporting Thermo Fisher’s mission of making the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.”

In the press release, Thermo Fisher specified that the new space at the Wisconsin site adds a dedicated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and protein characterization space, two molecular suites with pre- and post-amplification labs, and two other labs for general use. Small molecules and biologics are the focus at the GMP lab, across all phases of drug development, according to Thermo Fisher—including biopharmaceuticals, device testing, cell and gene therapy, and MS analysis (1).

The capabilities of the GMP site had previously been expanded in February 2024 with the addition of mycoplasma and supplementary biosafety testing services, in an effort to ensure contaminants are stripped out of biopharmaceutical products (2).

While Thermo Fisher maintains clinical research laboratories in other US states, such as Kentucky and Virginia, as well as in countries including Belgium, China, Ireland, and Singapore, the new enhancements in Wisconsin have been significant enough to draw the attention of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.

“As Wisconsin’s biohealth sector continues to grow, so will our workforce, our economic momentum, and our opportunities to build a healthier, stronger state for all,” Evers said in the June 18 press release. “This new state-of-the-art facility will not only further advance our state’s biosafety testing capabilities and create hundreds of jobs, but it will also help protect consumers and improve patient health outcomes across the state.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired PPD at a price of $17.4 billion in December 2021 (3).

References

1. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific Expands Clinical Research Laboratory in Wisconsin. Press Release. June 18, 2024. newsroom.thermofisher.com/newsroom/press-releases/.
2. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific Expands GMP Laboratory Service Offerings with Biosafety Testing Including Mycoplasma Testing. Press Release. Feb. 13, 2024. newsroom.thermofisher.com/newsroom/press-releases/.
3. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific Completes Acquisition of PPD, Inc. Press Release. Dec. 8, 2021. ir.thermofisher.com/investors/news-events/news/.