Genentech Announces Plans to Expand California Biologics Manufacturing Facilities
Investment to Bring More Than 250 New Jobs to the State
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. — 2013-10-13
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced plans to invest more than $285 million for the expansion of its biologics manufacturing facilities in Vacaville and Oceanside, California. “This investment and expansion will result in the addition of more than 250 new jobs at the Vacaville and Oceanside facilities over the next four years, bringing the total number of Genentech manufacturing jobs in California to close to 3,000,” said Ian Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Genentech. The company currently employs approximately 10,000 people in the state.
These investments in Genentech’s biologics manufacturing network will enable the hiring of hundreds of skilled workers, ranging from technicians to scientists and engineers. “California has always had an impressive skilled workforce that has allowed Genentech to hire diverse and talented individuals in various disciplines,” Clark said. “In recent years California has made great strides toward improving the business environment for life sciences innovation and incentivizing manufacturing. We are committed to working with the state to continue this positive progress and make California an even better place to grow the industry.”
Genentech’s United States manufacturing network spans three locations in California – South San Francisco, Vacaville, and Oceanside – and Hillsboro, Oregon, producing medicines intended for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma. When the expansion is complete, Genentech’s Vacaville facility will not only be the largest producer of biologic medicines for the Roche Group but also the largest biotech manufacturing facility in the world.
About Biologics and Their Manufacturing
Biologic medicines are large molecules that are created by biological processes, rather than being chemically synthesized, and are typically administered via injection or intravenously. Roche is a world leader in biologic medicine manufacturing, with long-standing expertise in biotech manufacturing and has the largest biotech production capacity of any company worldwide.
The biologics unit at Roche consists of several manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia, which work as a closely aligned network focused on all aspects of biologic medicine manufacturing and supply. The manufacturing of biologic medicines consists of two operations, the production of drug substance and drug product. The production of drug substance uses genetically modified cells to serve as mini-factories that can manufacture the appropriate proteins. The production of drug product includes the final formulation of the medicine into a sterile liquid or powder that can be filled into a vial, syringe or device, which is then packaged for worldwide distribution.
About Genentech
Founded more than 35 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.