Madison-based Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics Inc. announced today it plans to build a $21 million stem cell manufacturing plant in Madison.
Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics is a U.S. subsidiary of Japanese electronics manufacturer Fujifilm Corp. FCD develops and produces human induced pluripotent stem cell technologies. At the new facility, it would industrialize the process of manufacturing the stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, both directly and through contract manufacturing, the company said in a release.
FCD expects the new plant will open by March 2020. Among the applications for its stem cells are treatments for age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Parkinson’s disease, heart diseases and cancer.
The company is headquartered across the street from the planned facility, at 525 Science Drive in Madison, and also has a facility in Novato, California. It plans to retain its current headquarters, and hire on an undetermined number of new employees for the new plant.
“To meet the growing demand for FCDI’s iPS cell platform, the state-of-the-art production facility will have a flexible cell culturing design to serve production requirements of both industrial quantities of cells and small, diverse batches,” said Seimi Satake, chairman and chief executive officer of FCD. “By combining Fujifilm’s experience gleaned from the intricate process of manufacturing photographic film, along with FCDI’s knowledge of cell reprogramming, genetic engineering and cell differentiation, the facility is poised to address the complex manufacturing processes of cell therapies.”
