SGS has just completed an expansion project at its Glasgow facility, enabling it to provide increased biosafety testing for the biologics, drug development, and cell and gene therapy industries. Offering these services with a reduced turnaround time for its clients, SGS is now better placed to provide testing services for cell therapies, gene therapies, viral vaccines and other biological medicines.
The project, which began back in March 2021 and was completed in September 2021, saw the footprint of the Glasgow facility increase by 550 sqm, meaning the facility is now 3,100 sqm in size with 130 employees.
Sixteen BSL-2 laboratories have been added to the Glasgow facility. These laboratories contain a range of equipment including BSL-2 cabinets, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technology, cell culture equipment for virus detection and real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing equipment.
This expansion follows on from previous investment rounds in 2020 and 2019, which increased the company’s capacity for testing cell banks and the routine bulk harvest for vaccines, gene and cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant protein-based biological medicines.
The facility, which adheres to both GMP and GLP (Good Laboratory Practices), provides vaccine and biologics manufacturers with access to high-quality batch-testing of their products.
Meeting this legal requirement is not only a crucial step in bringing these products to market safely and efficiently, but it also plays a fundamental role in improving global health outcomes.
Archie Lovatt, Site Manager & Scientific Director SGS, commented: “Most notably, the Biosafety Center of Excellence in Glasgow has participated in the batch-testing and release of over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine, helping to increase vaccine access and bring the global population out of the pandemic.”
