Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has agreed to acquire from Novartis a viral-vector manufacturing facility in Libertyville, Illinois. The facility is planned to transition to BMS over the course of 2023, subject to the fulfillment of applicable closing conditions. 

The facility and its operations have capabilities to produce viral vectors for BMS’ cell-therapy product candidates and marketed products, including Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel), a drug for treating lymphoma, and Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel, a drug for treating relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. 

The new facility will add to BMS’ cell-therapy manufacturing network, which includes cell-therapy manufacturing facilities in Bothell, Washington; Warren, New Jersey; and Summit, New Jersey, with two additional manufacturing sites in development in Devens, Massachusetts, and Leiden, the Netherlands. 

Source: Bristol Myers Squibb