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Somerset-based biotechnology company Catalent has acquired Promethera’s cell therapy manufacturing subsidiary, Hepatic Cell Therapy Support SA in Gosselies, Belgium.

The acquisition includes Promethera’s 32,400 square-foot facility in Gosselies, which will house Catalent’s new commercial-scale plasmid DNA manufacturing and will allow for the growth of Catalent’s pDNA service offering, which was recently acquired from Delphi Genetics to support the growing cell and gene therapy pipeline.

This new facility is located on Catalent’s existing campus in Gosselies, adjacent to the Delphi Genetics building.

It houses cleanroom infrastructure, process development and quality control laboratories, and warehouse space, and will be equipped to provide pDNA manufacturing up to a 500-liter scale.

This is Catalent’s third acquisition at its Gosselies location.

Fitting out the facility will create more than 200 technical, scientific, and operational jobs over the next five years, according to the company.

Alongside this new expansion in Gosselies, Catalent will also offer commercial-scale pDNA production capabilities at its Rockville, Md. facility.

“Plasmid DNA manufacturing is a critical component to many biological therapeutics, including viral vectors, mRNA, and cellular therapies. This investment allows Catalent to support these programs from development through to CGMP commercial production, offering the full horizontal supply chain,” said Manja Boerman, president of Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy. “The Center of Excellence we have established in Belgium brings critical experience and expertise together on one campus, allowing for key synergies to best support our customers.”

“Promethera is thrilled to divest its HCTS facility to Catalent, alongside its new strategy to concentrate activities on its core expertise and breakthrough approach using advanced therapies to restore liver health in patients with life-threatening liver diseases,” explained professor Etienne Sokal, president of Promethera in a prepared statement