Facility to be run by Cell Therapy Catapult, cementing future of UK industry
The Cell Therapy Catapult, which is focused on the development of the UK cell therapy industry to increase the nation’s health and wealth, is to manage the new UK Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre announced in today’s Budget1. The Centre, which is expected to open in 2016/17, will provide vital large-scale manufacturing facilities, helping the country to retain manufacturing activity, attract inward investment and boost exports. The first such UK facility, it is a recognition of the quality and potential of the UK cell therapy community, and will have £55m of funding from 2014/15.
Analysis by the Cell Therapy Catapult and others has shown that the UK’s small-scale academic facilities are an excellent source of materials for early-stage clinical trials. However, it is expected that this capacity will be full within 3-6 years as the industry’s pipeline matures. The Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre provides the UK with the manufacturing facilities needed for later studies and commercialisation, promoting retention of domestic expertise and jobs. In addition, many global cell therapy organisations with which the CT Catapult has engaged believe that a high-quality EU manufacturing base is essential for bringing their products to the European market, and this facility should also help to anchor their activities in the UK.
The Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre will leverage process development expertise at the CT Catapult, based on innovative modular designs. It is expected to create up to 100 jobs, and the process for choosing its location will be announced shortly. Forecasts indicate that firms using the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre will generate £1.2bn of revenue by 2020 (80% via export).
Keith Thompson, CEO of the Cell Therapy Catapult, said, ‘The decision to build the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre is a recognition of the quality and growth potential of the UK cell therapy industry. It will be accessible to firms scaling up for Phase III trials and market supply, bridging the gap between early manufacturing and commercialisation. We are delighted to be managing this initiative, which addresses one of the industry’s main barriers to growth, as recognised by the recent House Lords Science and Technology Committee report. Thanks are due to the cell therapy community, which contributed to our manufacturing analysis, and we continue to work together to generate UK health and wealth.’
Commenting on the Budget, Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: ‘Today’s announcement is a positive endorsement from Government of the rapid progress Catapults are making in helping UK businesses accelerate the commercialisation of new and innovative technologies.’
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1The UK Chancellor’s Budget speech can be found here
For more information, please contact:
Cell Therapy Catapult
Keith Thompson, CEO
+44 (0)207 1883428
Emma Palmer Foster, Strategic Communications Consultant
+44 (0)7880 787185
Technology Strategy Board (for Catapult programme)
James Easey, Media Relations
james.easey@tsb.gov.uk
+44 (0)7557 086952
Notes to Editors
About the Cell Therapy Catapult
The Cell Therapy Catapult is a centre of translational excellence for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Its vision is for the UK to be a global leader in the development, delivery and commercialisation of cell therapy, making it a location for business start-up and growth. Based in London at Guy’s Hospital, the centre takes products into early clinical trials, providing clinical, technical, manufacturing and regulatory expertise and access to the NHS. There is a focus on collaboration and lowering barriers to investment and funding, and operations have grown rapidly since inception. UK Trade Investment has valued the global regenerative medicine industry at just over £500 million, and estimates that it will be generating revenues of over £5 billion by 2021. For more information please go to ct.catapult.org.uk
About Catapults
Established by the Technology Strategy Board, the Catapults are a network of seven technology and innovation centres covering a range of sectors including: High Value Manufacturing, Satellite Applications, Cell Therapy, Offshore Renewable Energy, Future Cities, Transport Systems and the Connected Digital Economy. Two more are in the pipeline – Energy Systems and Precision Medicine – and these are due to open in 2015. The existing centres are making significant progress, attracting new investments, forging strong partnerships in their sectors and engaging with thousands of businesses large and small. The total public and private sector investment in the Catapults will £1.4 billion over the first five year period.
About the Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.