Cambridge-headquartered Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is gearing up for a hefty $250 million expansion of its biomanufacturing operation in Norton, as confirmed by the company in a recent release. This move emphasizes not only the company's commitment to innovation but also to the local economy, with the construction aimed at accommodating its siRELIS manufacturing platform which has gained acceptance into the FDA's Emerging Technology Program.
The substantial investment by Alnylam, specializing in RNA interference (RNAi) therapies, is set to transform a currently unused 35,000-square-foot segment of its existing facility. Dr. Yvonne Greenstreet, CEO of Alnylam, told The Boston Globe, “This advance will be a critical enabler in the scaling of our pipeline to include potential treatments for diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.” The project, which is expected to be fully operational by 2028, will not only broaden the scale of production but make waves in the treatment of these prevalent diseases.
In the wake of such a move, Governor Maura Healey expressed her contentment with Alnylam's progression, citing Massachusetts' reputation for health care innovation and the anticipated creation of numerous jobs in the state. Furthermore, the local biomanufacturing landscape seems buoyant as this development comes on the heels of a number of similar projects cropping up along Routes 128 and 495, as noted by The Boston Globe.
The decision by Alnylam to grow its facility in Norton comes with the aim of establishing the industry’s first full-fledged, proprietary, siRNA enzymatic-ligation manufacturing site. Addressing this development, Business Wire reports that Timothy Maines, Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer at Alnylam, highlighted the complex nature of producing oligonucleotide-based medicines, and how the expanded facilities would reduce production costs while maintaining quality. According to the same release, the new capabilities are expected to become fully operational by late 2027.
Dr. Kirk Taylor, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), also weighed in on the scale and impact of the project, emphasizing the solidification of Massachusetts' prowess in the life sciences sector globally. In addition, the expansion plan aligns with Alnylam’s "Alnylam P5x25" strategy, which seeks to advance and supply transformative medicines that cater to a wide range of diseases, testament to the firm's ambition and the dynamic nature of the biotech industry.
