The office in Cambridge, Boston is intended to let the Scotland, UK-based contractor win more US customers according to a spokesman, who told us “having a local presence obviously helps with existing clients and new potential ones, which we can service locally.”
Symbiosis – which is hiring more US commercial staff – predicted that growth of the US biotech sector will increase demand for the production of liquid and lyophilised formulations in injectable dosage forms.
The firm cited the industry interest in orphan drugs and personalized medicines as a key driver, explaining that development of production of medicines for smaller patient populations requires a contractor with flexibility and expertise.
US business
Symbiosis has been building its North American customer base since 2015. The plan has been to focus on early-stage biotech companies in need of smaller scale, specialist manufacturing capabilities.
At the time, Symbiosis CEO Colin MacKay told us that US demand for sterile manufacturing was increasing as a result of renewed biotech investment and the growing number of firms developing injectables.
He also said quality problems at US contractors had reduced capacity and created an opportunity for symbiosis.
Despite its US focus, Symbiosis has no plans to set up US manufacturing capacity according to the spokesman, who told us that projects commissioned at the firm’s new US office will be serviced at its facility in Stirling, Scotland.