BI invests $217 million to upgrade and expands it Freemont, CA biologics production facility.

 Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) will be investing $217 million to expand and upgrade its Fremont, California manufacturing plant where it produces biologic drugs. The project will result in an increase in the plant’s capacity by one-third.

The Fremont facility focuses on immunology, rheumatology and oncology and is one of four sites in BI’s biomanufacturing network. The others are located in Biberach, Germany, Vienna, Austria and Shanghai, China, the latter of which was inaugurated earlier in 2017 and will initially be supporting the company’s biopharma mammalian cell culture contract manufacturing business. BI is also investing $537 million in the Vienna site, adding a new large-scale biologics manufacturing facility that will be operational by 2021.

The Fremont site currently employs over 500 people and has capabilities in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing from small scale to commercial for both drug substance and drug products. It also has capabilities for fill/finish, packaging and medical device assembly.

BI recently received $25.5 million in two separate tax credits from the state of California for the Fremont site. The company indicated that once the project is completed, it will be adding nearly 300 additional positions.

"The State Treasurer's Office is excited to play a role in helping Boehringer Ingelheim expand and create nearly 300 permanent, high-paying jobs right here in California," said State Treasurer John Chiang. "The incentives my office provides ensure that California will retain and create jobs, bolster the economy and clean the environment, today and into the future."   

"The Bay Area is the largest biotech cluster in the world. We are happy to have made Fremont our home and are grateful for the support we have received from the community and the State of California," said Jens Vogel, President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont, Inc. "We have made a commitment to the region and are excited to continue to invest in the Bay Area and expand our workforce to help increase patient access to high-quality medicines."