VectorBuilder, a global leader in gene delivery technologies, today announced plans to invest $50 million to establish a new Advanced Biomanufacturing and R&D Center in Chicago, marking a major expansion of the company’s regional operations and long-term commitment to supporting the development of genetic medicines.
The new Center will combine research and development with manufacturing capabilities across VectorBuilder’s gene delivery portfolio. Planned as a multi-phase project, the facility is expected to begin initial operations in 2027, with further expansion aligned to customer demand and program scale.
The investment reflects a structural shift in the gene and cell therapy sector, where early vector design decisions are increasingly tied to manufacturability, regulatory compliance, and clinical performance. As more programs advance toward clinical development, demand is rising for platforms that can support both discovery and scalable production without requiring redesign at later stages.
“Despite recent volatility in the CGT field, we see strong long-term momentum in genetic medicine,” said Dr. Bruce Lahn, Chief Scientist of VectorBuilder. “This investment reflects our conviction that gene delivery will be a defining factor in the next phase of the industry. By expanding our capabilities, we can tap into local talent pools and strengthen our biomanufacturing and R&D capabilities in a fully integrated manner, positioning us to innovate and scale as demand accelerates.”
The Center is designed to support a full range of gene delivery capabilities, including plasmids, recombinant viral and nonviral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. By bringing these capabilities into a unified workflow, VectorBuilder aims to improve continuity from research-grade constructs to GMP manufacturing and reduce fragmentation across development stages.
“Chicago is quickly establishing itself as a meaningful center for life sciences innovation, with growing investment in infrastructure and access to deep scientific talent,” said Dr. Kristofer Mussar, Chief Operating Officer of VectorBuilder. “Its central location also allows us to better support customers across the U.S. as more programs move into clinical development and require closer alignment between R&D and manufacturing.”
The expansion will also support increased capacity and faster turnaround times for North American customers, particularly as programs transition from early research into IND-enabling studies and clinical production.
“Access to advanced development and manufacturing capabilities is becoming increasingly important as gene and cell therapy pipelines mature,” said Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe, Chair, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. “Strengthening regional capacity in North America can play a meaningful role in accelerating the translation of research into clinical applications.”
The new Center will complement VectorBuilder’s global operations across the United States, Europe, and Asia, adding regional capacity to support researchers and biopharmaceutical companies as programs progress toward clinical and commercial stages.
About VectorBuilder
VectorBuilder is a global leader in gene delivery technologies. As a trusted partner in thousands of labs and biotech/pharma companies around the world, VectorBuilder is a one-stop shop for the design, development, and optimization of gene delivery solutions from basic research to clinical applications. Its award-winning Vector Studio is a transformative innovation that allows researchers to easily design and order custom vectors online, freeing them from the tedious work of cloning and packaging vectors in the lab. The global company boasts high-throughput vector production capacity, vast vector and component inventories, one-on-one CRO solutions that include advanced AAV capsid engineering capabilities, and state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facilities. With leading R&D and CDMO capabilities, the VectorBuilder team strives to provide the most effective gene-delivery solutions and develop innovative tools for life sciences research and genetic medicine.
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