- Bionova Scientific has opened a 10,000 sq ft plasmid DNA development and production facility in The Woodlands, Texas.
- The site will support research-grade pDNA manufacturing immediately, with clinical to commercial cGMP production targeted for Q4 2025.
Bionova Scientific®, a biologics contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, has opened a 10,000 square-foot plasmid DNA (pDNA) development and production facility in The Woodlands, Texas. The site is designed to supply research-grade pDNA to the cell and gene therapy sector and will expand to offer clinical and commercial-scale cGMP production by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The facility, located less than 30 miles north of Houston, marks Bionova Scientific’s expansion beyond mammalian protein production into pDNA services, a critical starting material for advanced therapies such as mRNA and viral vector-based cell and gene therapies. The move complements the company’s established antibody and protein CDMO operations at its Fremont, California site.
According to the company, the Texas location was chosen for its proximity to a growing number of cell and gene therapy companies, providing strategic access to the expanding U.S. CGT ecosystem. Darren Head, President and Chair of Bionova Scientific, said: “Bionova added these highly sought-after pDNA capabilities in response to a persistent unmet need among the cell and gene therapy biopharma community. Completing this specialised facility on schedule is not only a milestone for our team, but a crucial step in ensuring our customers receive the reliable, timely support they need to meet their own deadlines.”
The expansion forms part of parent company Asahi Kasei’s medium-term management plan, which prioritises growth in virus filtration, CRO testing, and CDMO services. By adding pDNA development and manufacturing, Bionova aims to strengthen its portfolio across biotherapeutic modalities and meet the needs of next-generation therapy developers.
