Stevenage 75th anniversary magazine | biz4Biz - Magazine - Page 29
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult:
supporting the growth of the
advanced therapies industry in
the UK
T
he Cell and Gene Therapy
Catapult (CGT Catapult) is an
independent innovation and
technology organisation committed to the
advancement of the cell and gene therapy
industry. We spoke with the CGT Catapult’s
Chief Manufacturing Officer, Dr Stephen
Ward, about the work and impact of the
organisation in Stevenage.
“Over the last eight years since we
started the construction of our Stevenage
Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MIC),
we’ve seen the area transform from an
empty field into a thriving ecosystem of
life sciences companies which has invested
millions into the development of cuttingedge facilities and provided hundreds of
jobs for the local area,” said Stephen.
“We have established a fantastic technology,
supply chain and manufacturing
infrastructure here by bringing together
UK and global companies so that amazing
therapies can not only be developed here,
but also manufactured here in the UK.
These efforts have all been ably supported
by the Stevenage Borough Council and the
Hertforshire LEP.”
The Stevenage MIC supports advanced
therapy companies to develop their
manufacturing processes at scale, speed and
according to regulations. In 2018, the site
gained a licence from the UK Medicines
and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) to allow the production of
products for clinical trials and commercial
use.
“We’ve supported various innovative
companies from our Stevenage MIC, and
some of our collaborators are now on the
cusp of manufacturing their products
commercially to supply patients in the UK
and across the globe,” explains Stephen.
“This progress is vital, to ensure that
patients are able to access these therapies.
Cell and gene therapies have the potential to
transform many people’s lives, but this will
only be possible if we can produce them at
a larger scale, which requires advances in
manufacturing processes.”
The CGT Catapult is currently supporting
the integration of digital and automation
technologies within therapy manufacturing
to make processes more efficient,
sustainable and scalable.
Stephen added, “By supporting the sector to
refine its manufacturing and by providing
training to ensure people have the skills
they need to use new technologies, we aim
to help the advanced therapies industry in
the UK to continue to grow, and ultimately
manufacture more therapies that go on to
reach patients and transform lives.”
DR. STEPHEN WARD
CGT Catapult’s Chief
Manufacturing Officer
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