PPD Expands Bioanalytical Laboratories Capabilities

Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is expanding its bioanalytical laboratory in Richmond, Virginia, in an effort to enhance its ability to meet biopharmaceutical clients’ increasing research needs. The expansion of the laboratory’s immunochemistry, biomarker, and chromatography services adds to PPD’s ongoing investments in its Richmond facilities, where enhancements have been made to its vaccine sciences, biomarker, genomics, and automation services. The current expansion incudes increasing the laboratory’s immunochemistry and biomarker space by 8000 square feet, which will be used for both biomarker laboratory capacity and a dedicated laboratory team for one of PPD’s global biopharmaceutical clients.

As a result of the expansion, the company expects to add about 200 new positions. The laboratory employs more than 1000 people, including PhD-level scientists, analytical laboratory staff, and other scientific professionals. Additionally, the company will soon add 30,000 square feet of space dedicated to chromatography services. PPD plans to use the space for state-of-the-art facility that will focus on modern mass spectrometry and automation, offering a layout optimized for bioanalysis of complex molecules such as antibody–drug conjugates, and advanced biotherapeutics such as cell and gene therapies. PPD also is creating a 4500-square-foot cell laboratory.