Xi Biologics Begins Construction of Microbial Manufacturing Site in Chengdu for Commercial Production
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
WuXi Biologics, a global Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO), has commenced construction of a new microbial manufacturing site in Chengdu’s Wenjiang district, a growing centre for pharmaceutical innovation in China.
Covering 95,000 square metres, the facility will support commercial-scale production of both drug substances (DS) and drug products (DP). It will handle a broad range of biologics, including peptides, antibody fragments, plasmid DNA, enzymes, cytokines, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The site is expected to achieve Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) release by the end of 2026. It will initially feature a 15,000-litre fermenter, supporting 80 to 110 DS batches annually, with the potential to expand to 60,000 litres over time.
The Chengdu site will also include China's first dual-chamber lyophilisation line and a vial filling line. This will give the facility the capacity to produce over 10 million vials per year, significantly boosting WuXi Biologics' commercial manufacturing capabilities.
The new plant will adopt WuXi Biologics’ EffiX™ microbial expression platform, designed to deliver high-yield and high-quality biologics with scalable and stable production processes. The facility will also feature advanced automation for regulatory compliance and efficiency, while incorporating energy-saving technologies and carbon-tracking systems to reduce environmental impact.
Production at the new site will include Lonapegsomatropin, VISEN Pharmaceuticals’ first commercial product, developed for treating paediatric growth hormone deficiency. WuXi Biologics has also formed a manufacturing partnership with Virogen Biotechnology. These collaborations demonstrate the company’s growing role in the production of biologic therapies and its commitment to meeting rising global demand.
Source: prnewswire.com
