The Pharma division of SAFC, a member of the leading Life Science and High Technology company, Sigma-Aldrich Group (SIAL) has completed the expansion of its Carlsbad, California facility. The facility conducts contract-manufacturing services for SAFC’s late phase and commercial clients. The $12 million expansion project included the addition of two fully segregated viral product-manufacturing suites built to employ the latest in disposable bioreactor technologies. This is aimed to expand SAFC Pharma's biologics, viral vaccines and gene therapy manufacturing to commercial quantities.

SAFC Pharma's Carlsbad site specializes in the process development and manufacturing of viral vaccines and viral therapeutics − including a full menu of support services − from preclinical process and analytical development to final fill/finish and commercial bulk drug supplies. The new expansion, designed for multi-lot campaigns, includes dedicated cell expansion, bioreactor production, purification and cleanroom suites. The expansion will enable both 100-liter batch production in stirred tank bioreactors

EcoSystem is a young company that is quickly making a name in the marketplace with innovating industrial-scale applications of bioreactor technology that are designed to resolve compelling ecological challenges while producing valuable products. The company reached a new milestone when they unveiled their MAGFUEL ™ biofuel feedstock model. EcoSystem will apply their bioreactor technology to convert food scrap waste into natural oils for biodiesel feedstock and specialty chemical applications.

The key to EcoSystem’s bioreactor technology is the use of the Black Soldier Fly. When at full capacity, Black Soldier Fly food scrap waste conversion technology could yield up to 190,000 gallons of crude (non-food) natural oils per acre of bioreactor surface area annually. In comparison, soybean yields an average of 40 gallons of oil per acre annually. EcoSystem’s integrated bioreactor is estimated to be deployed at a cost of less than $100 per square foot with minimal use of utilities