NYBCe Acquires Commercial-Scale CGT Development and Manufacturing Facilities

New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), an AABB institutional member, announced Oct. 4 its acquisition of commercial-scale cell and gene therapy (CGT) development and manufacturing facilities, as well as certain technologies and equipment, from Talaris Therapeutics, Inc. in Houston, Texas, and Louisville, Ky.

The acquisition of both locations, combined with NYBCe’s Comprehensive Cell Solutions (CCS) cell sourcing and collection network, accelerates the delivery of a fully integrated vein-to-vein cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing solution for the continental United States, capable of serving the biopharma industry and large hospital systems.

Christopher D. Hillyer, MD, president and CEO at NYBCe, noted the acquisition allows NYBCe to have in-house start-to-finish cell and gene therapy, and regenerative medicine, development and manufacturing capabilities. “I am exceptionally pleased with this strategic expansion of our CCS portfolio,” Hillyer said.  “Our new facilities and expert teams are located within key geographies, with best-in-class GMP manufacturing, and a close-to-patient transportation network as well as leading academic medical centers, which will allow us to fast-track lifesaving therapies to hospital systems.”

Both state-of-the-art facilities offer space for autologous and allogeneic cell sourcing and collection, expanding NYBCe’s large collection footprint and broad donor base. The Louisville facility adds approximately 20,000 sq. ft. with quality control and Phase 3-fitted GMP manufacturing capacity. The space provides ISO 7 cleanrooms, vast GMP capacity, cryopreservation, and storage and warehouse space, a robust digital chain of identity systems, supported by rigorous testing and release procedures. The Houston facility offers another 6,000 sq. ft. of analytical and process development capacity enhancing NYBCe’s expertise in broad analytical methodologies across cell types, viral vectors, mRNA and gene expression analysis.

According to NYBCE, the acquisition expands CCS capabilities and geographic reach as a commercial-scale cell therapy clinical development and manufacturing organization.

“CCS’ acquisition will improve the process of drug development and delivery for patients with life-threatening cancers, as well as severe blood and genetic disorders. We look forward to bringing on additional talent from the cell and gene therapy hubs of Houston and Louisville and providing the highest quality cell and gene therapies for biopharma companies and hospitals throughout the U.S.,” said Jay Mohr, executive vice president and chief business officer, NYBCe.