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Avecia is an innovative bio-technology and bio-processing company with sites in both the UK and the US, and which develops advanced medicines using innovative and cutting-edge methods. 

The company was founded in 1999 after a leveraged buy out from its previous owner, AstraZeneca, and immediately became Europe’s largest privately-owned speciality chemical company. 

It has a very strong international reputation in the process development and manufacture of systems for the production of microbial-derived pharmaceuticals.   The company now consists of two streams: Avecia OligoMedicines, based in Massachusetts, and Avecia Biologics, based in Billingham on Teesside.

Activities in the Region

Avecia Biologics in Billingham is a global leader in the development and manufacture of biologics for microbial-derived biologics, and has a particularly strong focus on research and development.  It offers bespoke programmes for the research, development, management and manufacture of innovative new therapies from microbes, proteins and mammalian cell cultures.  It works with both early and late-phase microbial developments, reflecting its position at the cutting edge of bio-processing technologies and methods.  Its analytical services support all key activities through the drug development process through an extensive range of techniques, including chemical analyses, separation science, electrophoretic techniques, spectrometry, and spectroscopy.

The company is located in Billingham, where its large scale Advanced Biologics Centre (ABC5000) opened in 2003. One of Europe’s largest contract biopharmaceutical manufacturing complexes, its state-of-the-art laboratory and bio-processing facilities include two purpose built 5000-litre fermentation tanks for the cGMP production of Phase III and approved microbially derived biologics. This is complemented by its ABC1000 facility which offers a 1000 litre and a 100 litre pilot plant for the cGMP manufacture of ‘early phase’ biologics.

The company has developed a range of innovative processes.  Most notably, May 2007 saw the launch of pAVEway™, a new, cutting-edge technology for the rapid manufacture of therapeutic proteins.  This new technology enables world-class microbial production of a wide range of therapeutically useful proteins (vaccines, cytokines, growth factors, etc) and has produced significant cost and time savings in the development of new pharmaceuticals.  pAVEway™ has resulted in a major increase in demand, and has led to a further £1m investment in the Billingham site with new laboratories and growth in recruitment for new research and development.   Industry recognition of pAVEway™ has been extensive, Avecia being presented with the top Gold Innovation Award at the annual CPhI Worldwide Convention in 2007, ahead of a number of renowned global competitors.   In June 2008, the company inaugurated a new Formulation Development facility, bringing together a range of innovative biochemical, bioanalytical and biophysical techniques to expand the bespoke services it offers to its customers.

Avecia has invested over £75m in the ABC site, and is continually expanding its facilities to cope with the growing demand for its services and products.  It employs over 500 highly-skilled technical, research and processing staff, and has taken on over 30 new specialist R&D staff since May 2007.

Contact

Bridget Hall (Communications Manager)
Bridget.hall@avecia.com
01642 363 511