WILMINGTON, N.C.– Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced it will invest $97 million to expand its clinical research operations in Richmond, Virginia. The facilities, which include laboratory operations acquired with the purchase of PPD, Inc. in December 2021, will support increasing demand across biopharma for consistent, high-quality laboratory services to accelerate drug development.
Over the next three years, Thermo Fisher expects to add nearly 150,000 square feet and more than 500 new employees in Richmond. The existing laboratory services operation in Richmond comprises more than 300,000 square feet, making it one of the largest laboratories of its kind in the world, and it employs more than 1,200 professionals, including Ph.D.-level scientists, analytical laboratory staff and other scientific professionals. The bulk of the expansion will occur in immunochemistry and chromatography functions, as well as subsequent enhancements in biomarker and vaccine sciences.
“Worldwide, we continue to expand our lab capacity to provide customers with high-quality bioanalytical lab services to advance their clinical research programs,” said David M. Johnston, Ph.D., senior vice president and president, clinical research, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “These services are vital for drug development, as approximately 70% of data generated in clinical trials comes from analytical laboratory testing. We’re pleased to extend our partnership with Virginia, Henrico County and the City of Richmond to continue our efforts to help customers deliver life-changing therapies to patients in need.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said, “Thermo Fisher’s expanding footprint and creation of more than 500 new jobs is a major win for the Greater Richmond region and Virginia’s life sciences industry. This sector has gained significant momentum in the Commonwealth due to our research institutions, skilled talent and advanced innovation ecosystem, and we are proud of the company’s developments happening right here in Virginia.”
The Richmond bioanalytical lab, elements of which have been operating since 1985, provides services for all phases of biopharmaceutical development for small molecule drugs, biologics, vaccines and biomarker testing. Drug testing services include drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), immunogenicity and biomarker quantitation to support drug efficacy and safety.
In addition to bioanalytical, biomarker and vaccine sciences labs in Richmond, Thermo Fisher’s clinical research business includes bioanalytical and good manufacturing practices (GMP) labs in Middleton, Wisconsin; a GMP lab in Athlone, Ireland; central labs in Shanghai, China, Brussels, Belgium, Highland Heights, Kentucky, and Singapore; a biomarker lab in Highland Heights; and a multipurpose bioanalytical, biomarker and vaccine sciences lab in Suzhou, China.
