The new plant is being built adjacent to Lonza’s existing campus in Portsmouth and is a co-investment project between the two companies. Lonza will operate the facility, which covers more than 130,000 square feet, and is expected to employ 300 people.

The large-scale manufacturing facility will support the commercial production of the Vertex’s T1D cell therapy portfolio, with a focus on the VX-880 and VX-264 programs currently in clinical trials. The company's first clinical program VX-880, Vertex said, has already demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept, while its second approach, VX-264, is being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial.

Reshma Kewalramani, CEO and president of Vertex, said: “Establishing this strategic partnership with Lonza, a world-class manufacturing organization, is a critical milestone in Vertex’s journey to transform the treatment of type 1 diabetes.”

Lonza’s CEO, Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, commented: “Today’s groundbreaking demonstrates Lonza’s continued commitment to helping our customers bring their innovative therapies to life. The facility will play a major role in delivering Vertex’s ambition to shape the future for patients living with T1D.”