- Catalent plans to close its Gosselies, Belgium, cell therapy and plasmids facility, affecting around 150 workers.
- The decision follows a reported decline in production and comes after a series of acquisitions and expansions in the area since 2020.
Catalent is planning to close its cell therapy and plasmids facility in Gosselies, Belgium, according to reports from local media. The move is expected to affect approximately 150 employees and follows earlier workforce reductions in the United States announced in the second half of last year.
The Gosselies operation has been described by the company as its European center of excellence in cell therapy. Local publication RTL reported that the planned closure is linked to a decline in production at the site. The facility comprises three buildings, and Catalent has begun consultations with the local works council and other stakeholders.
“As part of our commitment to driving value for our customers and patients, Catalent continually evaluates its operations in response to changing market dynamics and customer needs,” a company spokesperson said. “Consistent with this review, Catalent has announced its intent to close the Gosselies cell therapy and plasmids site and consider transitioning certain ongoing business to other sites within our network.”
Catalent built its presence in Gosselies through several transactions earlier this decade. In February 2020, it agreed to acquire CDMO MaSTherCell for $315 million, gaining a 25,000-square-foot facility. This was followed by an additional facility acquisition later in 2020 and another CDMO purchase in 2021.
In 2022, the company announced the opening of a new 60,000-square-foot site in Gosselies as part of its expansion in cell and gene therapy and contract manufacturing. Since then, priorities have shifted for both Catalent and the broader cell and gene therapy sector, prompting a reassessment of its CDMO network.
