FDA signs off on Bristol Myers Squibb’s latest Devens biomanufacturing venture

Photo | Courtesy of Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb's (Devens facility pictured) is one of the largest manufacturers in the North Central Massachusetts area.

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By Isabel Tehan

Bristol Myers Squibb, a global pharmaceutical company with U.S. headquarters in New York, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for commercial cell therapy manufacturing in Devens.

The Devens facility is the company’s newest cell therapy manufacturing site, according to a June 8 release from Bristol Myers Squibb. The new site will allow expanded production and increase supply of the therapies, according to the release.

The facility is 244,000 square feet, according to the press release, and is the company’s second expansion of its 89-acre Devens site.

“The Devens facility integrates the latest state-of-the-art technology in the industry with top talent in the Boston area that will take us into the next phase of our cell therapy journey,” Karin Shanahan, executive vice president, global product development & supply at Bristol Myers Squibb, said in the press release. “We are working diligently to increase our product capacity through new sites like Devens and by implementing innovative manufacturing solutions that help patients in need.”

Bristol Myers Squibb was one of five life science companies with operations in Central Massachusetts to receive a tax break incentive to build out operations and create jobs. It received an incentive of $1.155 million to expand the Devens facility, tied to an expected job commitment of 77 jobs. The Devens facility contributes approximately 500 jobs to the Massachusetts life science industry, according to the June 8 release.