Thermo Fisher Opens Utah Bioprocessing Site for Biologics, Vaccines

Thermo Fisher recently launched a single-use technology bioprocessing site in Utah to create additional capacity to produce high-quality technology and materials needed to develop new vaccines and breakthrough biologics.  

The $44 million facility is part of the company's $650 million multi-year investment to help ensure flexible, scalable, and reliable bioprocessing production capacity for critical materials used in developing new and existing biologics and vaccines, including for COVID-19.  

The 55,000 square-foot facility will manufacture customizable bioprocess container (BPC) systems. BPCs are used to deliver, process, separate, store, and transport critical liquids and integrate them into systems across all steps in the production process.  

"The Ogden facility further strengthens our global manufacturing network, which has been growing to meet the increasing demand for single-use consumables and critical raw materials," Mitch Kennedy, president of single-use technologies at Thermo Fisher, said in the announcement.  

"This new facility expands our presence in Utah and locating here gives us the ability to work closely with our Logan site, providing access to a talented workforce that is ideal for manufacturing the highly complex and customized solutions we provide our customers," Kennedy continued.  

So far, the site has hired over 300 employees and has the potential to employ nearly 450 people across safety, quality, manufacturing, HR, engineering, and warehousing. Thermo Fisher currently employs more than 2,000 colleagues across Utah, establishing a critical hub for bioprocessing.  

Utah Senator Mike Lee emphasized that the new facility is an investment in the state's biotechnology infrastructure and an investment in thriving communities.  

In March 2022, Thermo Fisher announced that it will invest $97 million to expand its clinical research operations in Virginia and support the increasing demand for drug and vaccine development.  

Over the next three years, the company will add nearly 150,000 square feet and more than 500 new employees to its laboratory in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond's existing laboratory services operation comprises more than 300,000 square feet and employs over 1,200 professionals.   

A majority of the expansion will occur in immunochemistry functions, chromatography functions, and biomarker and vaccine sciences to further produce consistent, high-quality laboratory services across the biopharma space.