Thermo Fisher Scientific, the global leader in scientific services, has announced an expansion of its manufacturing capacity in St. Louis, aimed at supporting the production of biologic therapies for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune conditions, and rare genetic disorders.

The expansion project, initiated in 2021, has seen the addition of 58,000 square feet of biologics manufacturing space. This expansion was made possible through various state and local tax incentives, including a 10-year new project abatement starting in 2024. Thermo Fisher Scientific currently employs over 1,000 individuals in the state of Missouri, with more than 900 working at the St. Louis site.

Paul Jorjorian, Vice President and General Manager of Biologics at Thermo Fisher, emphasized the company's commitment to providing its customers with greater flexibility for scaling up manufacturing processes, ultimately serving patients in need of these specialized medicines.

Biologics, unlike chemically synthesized drugs, are manufactured within living cells, making the production process inherently more complex. Thermo Fisher Scientific boasts decades of experience in biologics and is capable of supporting activities ranging from initial research to process development and commercial production. The St. Louis site is an integral part of the company's global biologics network, which spans North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

As part of the expansion, the manufacturing suites will house up to four Thermo Scientific™ DynaDrive™ Single-Use Bioreactors (SUB), each capable of processing up to 5,000 liters. The St. Louis site has been involved in the production of biologic therapies since the early 1990s and currently manufactures products that are available commercially worldwide. Additionally, the site features a collaboration center where Thermo Fisher's pharmaceutical services and bioproduction businesses collaborate on developing new technologies, products, and services for customers.