'Medicine at a bigger scale': FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies unveils new Holly Springs drug manufacturing site

Hundreds of employees and company leaders celebrated in Holly Springs Tuesday for the unveiling of the new FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB) site. Additionally, the company announced Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson company, will be its first tenant once it opens in 2025.

This comes roughly two years after its groundbreaking back in 2021. Now, CEO and president Lars Petersen says we’re seeing what the final product will look like: 7 buildings spread across nearly 1 million square feet.

“This is so exciting, because now you see the entire outside, finished, as it will look when it’s done,” Petersen said.

The new $2 billion facility will be the largest end-to-end cell culture contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North America and will house state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and technology including two large-scale manufacturing suites, according to the company. In other words, it will be a place for everything from drug substance manufacturing to packaging, assembly and labeling.

FDB already has a site in Morrisville, where its team with Novavax during the pandemic to produce a COVID-19 vaccine. Petersen calls the new site ‘medicine at a bigger scale,’ which differs from its current Morrisville location.

“The difference between [the] RTP site is more the scale…What you see here…it’s really medicine at bigger scale. For many patients, it could in the future be Alzheimer’s medicine, but it likely will be in the beginning, oncology medicine or autoimmune disease. What you see in RTP is much more early-stage programs or smaller volumes that require smaller equipment,” he explained.

FDB owns 150 acres of land in Holly Springs for the project. WRAL asked Peterson how many companies could move into the new facility.

“That really depends on the volume of medicine and it could be many; it could also be very few,” Petersen said.

By the end of 2028, roughly 725 jobs are expected to come from the project. Job postings on the company’s website show they are currently hiring for positions in its Holly Springs location.

“This area alone, we have about 75,000 trained employees for our industry. That mattered a lot when we had to position the facility and decide where to go,” Petersen said.

Tim Forrest, Holly Springs town council member, sent WRAL this statement:

“I am thrilled to hear about the announcement regarding Janssen Supply Group, a Johnson & Johnson company, joining FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Holly Springs.

FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Holly Springs has been an excellent community partner with the town and will continue to bring positive opportunities for the growth, development, community opportunities, jobs, and strength for the commercial tax base. As Holly Springs continues to build and grow the Life Science & Bioscience projects, the positive impact to Holly Springs will continue for generations to come.”