Lonza to add 150K SF of more space in Pearland facility

​​PEARLAND – International biotechnology giant Lonza plans to add an additional 150,000 sf at its 100,000-sf Pearland facility after it inked a long-term commercial agreement with a Boston-area biotech firm.

Lonza Houston Inc., which is the local branch of Switzerland-based Lonza Group Ltd., began construction on its facility in the Lower Kirby district in March.

The initial phase of the clinical manufacturing and R&D facility is expected to open in late 2017, according to a statement from the Pearland Economic Development Corp.

However, Lonza plans to begin construction immediately on the second phase: a 150,000-sf building that includes offices, laboratories and manufacturing space.

Additionally, the new facility gives Lonza the capability to double the production of its current viral gene and cell therapeutics it produces for its customers.

The expansion comes on the heels of a June nine agreement between Lonza Houston and Bluebird Bio Inc. to manufacture Bluebird’s Lenti-D and LentiGlobin products.

Bluebird Bio is a gene therapy company that focuses on cancer and a broad range of other diseases, according to its website.