GenScript opens automated gene synthesis facility

GenScript USA Inc. opened an automated gene synthesis and plasmid preparation facility in Piscataway near its U.S. headquarters on Nov. 2.

The opening of the more than 50,000-square-foot facility marks a significant expansion of the company’s advanced gene synthesis services. The move is designed to mitigate U.S-based customers’ supply chain risks with high quality, fast-turnaround on products required for new vaccines, therapeutics and innovations in synthetic biology.

Ray Chen, president of GenScript USA Life Science Group Inc., said the development of the facility allows the company to deliver products to customers faster.

“Importantly, this site also gives our U.S. customers additional production resilience in case of unexpected events, such as pandemics and changes in customs and trade regulations,” Chen said.

The facility is GenScript’s first automated manufacturing site in the country. The company said it represents a 10-fold increase in capacity.

GenScript intends to add 100 to 200 jobs in research and manufacturing to the facility over the next two years.

Since its founding in 2002, GenScript has completed more than 600,000 gene synthesis projects for scientists globally, making the way for the development of cell and gene therapies for cancer and other diseases, and new vaccines. The company has more than 100 patents and over 270 patent applications.