Gene therapy manufacturing facility opens in Kuopio, Finland

Owned and operated by FinVector, the facility produces the viral vector-based active pharmaceutical ingredient in Adstiladrin, the only non-replicating gene therapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A registered trademark of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the therapy is presently available for adults in the US.

“Finport not only facilitates the global expansion of knowledge, capabilities and capacity in gene therapy but also solidifies FinVector's status as a major global gene therapy development and manufacturing partner,” estimated Giuseppe Carloni, board chairperson at FinVector.

The 25 000-square metre facility boasts a cutting-edge manufacturing suite to produce the pharmaceutical ingredient in large quantities, as well as heat pumps and solar panels to minimise its impact on the planet.

“The development of this facility has been an extraordinary journey, with significant contributions from local contractors who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life in just two years,” said Matthias Krieger, managing director of FinVector.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Ferring has invested significantly in developing the ingredient since 2014. Finland, as its development and manufacturing hub in Europe, has received more than half of the total investment, with the newly opened facility reaffirming its commitment to the healthcare ecosystem in the country. FinVector is one of the largest private-sector employers in and around Kuopio, having more than doubled its staff to around 500 in the past 30 months.