Richter-Helm invests €70M to triple its production capacity in Germany

The addition of two new manufacturing trains will support the demand for high-value biopharmaceutical products

Biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), Richter-Helm, has started construction work to expand its cGMP manufacturing facility in Bovenau, Germany.

The CDMO and its mother companies Gedeon Richter and HELM AG will invest almost €70 million to triple the current production capacity and expand its existing warehouse, laboratory, and administration buildings.

As part of the Bovenau expansion, the company will install two additional highly flexible and fully equipped production trains with interchangeable product flows. Bioreactor capacities of 300 L and 1,500 L will be added.

The new multi-product biological manufacturing facility site, which is expected to begin full-scale operations and manufacturing by the end of 2023, will reach a total area of about 10,000 m² and includes all necessary utilities and infrastructure, such as QC-labs, warehouse and technical areas.

Dr Kai Pohlmeyer, Managing Director at Richter-Helm said that once the new site becomes fully operational, the company expects to create a "significant" number of new jobs for qualified professionals.

Currently, the company operates two cGMP-compliant microbial production facilities: one in Hannover, the other in Bovenau, Germany, with bioreactor capacities of up to 1,500 L.