Bionova Scientific announces $100 million investment in new Plasmid DNA facility

Bionova Scientific aims to offer pDNA development services and production of research grade and high quality pDNA

Bionova Scientific, an Asahi Kasei Group company, recently announced plans to invest $100 million to  expand into plasmid DNA (pDNA) production. The centerpiece of the project is a new  100,000 sq. ft. development and manufacturing facility in The Woodlands, Texas (near  Houston). When the new facility begins operation in Q1/2025, Bionova Scientific will offer  pDNA development services and production of research grade and high quality pDNA. GMP  manufacturing is planned for early 2026. 

According to the company’s statement, “The expansion is part of a previously announced long-term strategic initiative by the company – supported by the Asahi Kasei Group – to broaden its services portfolio to cover an even wider range  of technical capabilities and therapeutic modalities, in response to diversifying customer requests.”

It adds, “Specifically, the pDNA initiative is in response to the persistent unmet need for high quality, timely, and  reliable pDNA supply among developers of novel cell and gene therapies (CGT). After evaluating  multiple locations, Bionova selected The Woodlands due to its geographical proximity to CGT  companies across the United States, as well as local access to the rapidly expanding CGT ecosystem  in Texas.”

Bionova Scientific is also currently expanding biologics production capacity at its Fremont, California  headquarters, as announced in early 2023. That expansion will quadruple GMP manufacturing capacity  and position the company for manufacture of commercial biotherapeutics. 

Darren Head, CEO of Bionova Scientific commented, “In our traditional biologics operation, we’ve had great  success helping partners overcome technical hurdles and streamlining timelines to get them into the  clinic rapidly. That requires that we not only work smarter, but that we have the physical assets needed  to avoid delays. We are taking the same approach with plasmid DNA, starting with building a  committed, expert team and then designing and establishing a facility that will translate to the same  kinds of successes.” 

“Bionova is driven to support our partners to bring life-saving treatments to patients. By adding pDNA  to our strategic offering, we are enhancing marketplace access to critical starting material across the  landscape of clinical and commercial therapeutics,” added Michelle Chen, Bionova’s Senior Vice  President of Process Development and Manufacturing for Plasmid DNA.