Fujifilm Biotechnologies has inaugurated a major expansion of its Teesside, UK campus, marking a significant step in strengthening its global biologics manufacturing network. Backed by an investment of approximately GBP 400 million from Fujifilm Corporation, the development includes the launch of what the company describes as the UK’s largest single-use biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing facility.

The expansion introduces advanced single-use bioreactor systems, including 2,000-litre and 5,000-litre units with total capacity reaching up to 19,000 litres. Designed to support small- and mid-scale antibody production, the 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2026, with built-in flexibility to scale alongside customer demand.

Alongside the manufacturing buildout, Fujifilm has opened the Bioprocess Innovation Centre UK, a new laboratory hub dedicated to high-throughput and continuous process development. Spanning more than 102,000 square feet, the centre doubles the site’s laboratory footprint and serves as a global innovation base for advancing biomanufacturing technologies while complementing expanded GMP production capabilities.

Together, the investments are intended to improve supply chain agility and expand Fujifilm’s ability to develop and manufacture complex biologic medicines, including therapies targeting cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare conditions. The site operates within Fujifilm’s kojoX modular manufacturing framework, which standardises equipment and processes across global facilities to enable faster technology transfer. The UK expansion is closely aligned with Fujifilm’s Toyama, Japan facility, supporting seamless scale-up and cross-site collaboration.

Company leadership highlighted the long-term strategy behind the investment, noting that Fujifilm has committed more than GBP 5 billion globally over the past decade to expand its CDMO footprint. The Teesside campus is positioned to support customers from process development through early clinical and commercial manufacturing, including specialised low-volume therapies.

The opening ceremony was attended by Fujifilm executives, UK officials, and representatives from industry and academic organisations. Site leaders also emphasised workforce development initiatives and partnerships with leading UK universities aimed at strengthening life sciences talent pipelines.

Sustainability was a key design focus of the new facility. The manufacturing building is fully electrified, eliminating gas-based production processes, and the site aims to operate on 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.

With more than 25 years of CDMO experience, the UK site provides end-to-end biologics manufacturing services. The new single-use facility will incorporate Fujifilm’s SymphonX downstream processing platform, designed to support flexible fed-batch and continuous production across multiple scales.