EMERYVILLE, Calif.– Metagenomi, a genetic medicines company with a versatile portfolio of wholly-owned, next-generation gene editing tools, today announced that it has opened a new, in-house Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility, based within its 50,000 square foot campus in Emeryville, California. The agile and modular facility will support the company’s strategy to develop precise gene-editing tools, addressing diseases with high unmet need. This first stage will enable the advancement of Metagenomi’s early clinical proprietary and partnered therapeutic programs.
“Our strategic investment in this facility gives us control over the GMP manufacturing of our proprietary nucleases and the industry leading toolbox built on the basis of these nucleases. This facility is designed in a modular way to scale with our increasing number of therapeutic development programs,” said Jian Irish, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Metagenomi. “Keeping this facility in-house is important for Metagenomi’s collaborative approach. The proximity to research and development teams that work with best-in-class automation and machine learning systems will ensure seamless development and progression of our large toolbox of innovative gene editing systems.”
The new facility will leverage the scalability of Metagenomi’s diverse gene editing toolbox and create synergy amongst cross-functional teams developing Metagenomi’s proprietary nucleases. Metagenomi’s discovery platform has created the largest library of active nucleases with the ability to edit any codon in the human genome. This library creates the basis for a diverse and proprietary gene editing toolbox that fits a variety of delivery options and is tailored to each therapeutic indication for both in vivo and ex vivo gene editing approaches. The opening of the new GMP facility will allow for rapid production of Metagenomi’s nucleases to supply both wholly-owned and partnered therapeutic programs.
“The opening of this facility represents a key step in our growth based on our successful funding track record, as we look to further the power of gene editing and bring clinical progress to patients,” said Brian C. Thomas, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Metagenomi. “Our Emeryville headquarters has enabled us to achieve incredible growth, now with two buildings, and we’re excited to expand our presence in the city, as it emerges as a future hub for biotech companies.”
The new facility is located within Metagenomi’s existing research and development laboratories. The first production in the new facility will take place by the end of 2022.
