Bayer Invests $250 Million in New Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Berkeley, California

SmartCom APP learned that Bayer (BAYRY.US), a giant in Germany's healthcare industry, invested $250 million to build a new cell therapy production plant in Berkeley, California, to support late-stage clinical trials of this cutting-edge therapy and the potential product launch.

It is reported that the factory will first produce materials required for the experimental cell therapy bemdaneprocel, which is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Bayer stated in August that this cell therapy showed encouraging results in early trials and may begin recruiting patients for phase II trials in the first half of 2024.

Bayer has been investing in gene and cell therapies. At the same time, some of Bayer's long-standing blockbuster drugs — including the blood thinner Xarelto and the eye treatment Eylea — have started to lose patent protection and face new market competition.