OXB Expands US Footprint with $4.5M Acquisition of Viral Vector Plant from National Resilience

Oxford Biomedica (OXB), a leading cell and gene therapy manufacturer, has made a significant move to bolster its presence in the United States. The UK-based company has acquired a viral vector plant in North Carolina from National Resilience for $4.5 million, marking a crucial step in its US expansion strategy.

Strategic Acquisition Enhances OXB's Manufacturing Capabilities

The newly acquired facility, located in the Research Triangle Park area of Durham, North Carolina, is set to become OXB's fifth global site and its second in the United States. This FDA-approved plant adds commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities to OXB's US operations, complementing its existing center of excellence for adeno-associated virus in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Frank Mathias, CEO of OXB, emphasized the importance of this acquisition, stating, "This is a major milestone in OXB's evolution as a global, innovation-led CDMO partner of choice. The FDA approved facility in North Carolina adds commercial-scale US manufacturing capabilities, accelerating OXB's ability to meet growing demand from existing clients while supporting new business opportunities."

The Durham facility boasts two GMP suites for drug substance production, one for fill-finish operations, and a fourth suite ready for expansion. Additionally, it houses quality control labs and warehousing space. OXB plans to have the plant operational by the first quarter of next year, with intentions to hire additional staff to bring it to full commercial readiness.

Industry Landscape and Strategic Moves

This acquisition comes amid significant changes in the cell and gene therapy manufacturing sector. National Resilience, which sold the North Carolina facility to OXB, has been undergoing a strategic consolidation. The company recently announced plans to close six of its ten plants, leaving it with facilities in Toronto, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati.

Resilience, launched in November 2020 with an $800 million investment and ambitious goals to revolutionize biopharmaceutical manufacturing, has faced challenges in aligning its capacity with industry demand. CEO William Marth acknowledged this mismatch, stating, "It has become clear that our capacity expansion has outpaced industry demand."

The Durham facility, which Resilience acquired for $110 million in 2021 as part of a partnership with gene therapy specialist bluebird bio (now rebranded as Genetix Biotherapeutics), had seen recent workforce reductions. In January, Resilience laid off 120 employees at this site.

OXB's strategic move comes less than two months after the company raised £60 million ($81 million) to fund its US expansion plans. With this acquisition, OXB is poised to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving cell and gene therapy market, leveraging the skilled workforce and established industry networks in the Research Triangle Park area.