- ProBioGen has been chosen to design, build, and operate a 4,600-square-metre GMP production facility for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) at the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies.
- The new hub, opening in 2028, will unite research, development, and contract manufacturing to accelerate the translation of therapies from discovery to clinic.
ProBioGen and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) have announced that the company has been awarded the contract to operate the process development and GMP production facility at the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT). The project is a joint initiative of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Bayer AG, and BIH.
Under the agreement, ProBioGen will design and lead construction of the 4,600-square-metre GMP unit before taking responsibility for its operation and certification. Once complete, the site will produce clinical material for gene- and cell-based modalities, including viral vectors, autologous and allogeneic cell products, non-viral technologies, and other biotherapeutics.
The BC GCT aims to integrate research, development, and manufacturing under one roof, creating a European hub for translational medicine. Alongside GMP-certified production, the centre will host incubator facilities with laboratories, offices, and mentoring for start-ups. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space and the State of Berlin, construction will begin in 2025 with opening scheduled for 2028.
ProBioGen, a Berlin-based CDMO, operates existing facilities near the BC GCT and specialises in cell line and process development, as well as manufacturing therapeutic proteins, antibodies, viral vectors, and vaccines. The proximity of the new unit is expected to create synergies and enable scale-up from discovery to clinical manufacturing.
“Being chosen to operate the GMP manufacturing facility at the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace with full commitment,” said Dr. Alfred Merz, Chief Executive Officer of ProBioGen.
