Oxford BioMedica will no doubt be celebrating news that it has won access to funds of £7.1 million under the UK government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), established to help existing UK supply chains grow and achieve world-class standards.
Oxford BioMedica led the successful bid with four other UK-based participants: the Heart of England NHS Foundation, Cranfield University, Cell Therapy Catapult Ltd and Biotec Services International.
Subject to due diligence and final confirmation by Birmingham City Council, the consortium has been awarded a £2.4 million grant, of which Oxford BioMedica will receive £1.8 million as well as a £5.3 million loan repayable by March 2017.
The £7.7 million total funding award “will support the development of a centre of excellence in ATMP supply chains in the UK with a focus on gene-based therapies at Oxford BioMedica,” the firm said.
Over the next two years the group will, with support from the consortium, develop its capability in serum-free, non-adherent manufacturing techniques and expand its proprietary manufacturing facility in Oxford to contain a third production suite and a state-of-the-art fill and finish operation.
The overall project cost will cost about £9.2 million and should take around two years to complete.
“This project, led by Oxford BioMedica, will create a new centre of excellence that will help underscore our world-leading capabilities in the biopharmaceutical sector while creating a host of new local jobs”, noted Michael Fallon, UK Business and Energy Minister.
