Spark Therapeutics has plans to build its new $575 million Spark Gene Therapy Center at the Drexel University campus in Philadelphia’s University City. This state-of-the-art innovation center will be developed at Drexel University’s F Lot, which the company acquired through a 99-year ground lease. The new Center will be situated at the intersection of 30th and Chestnut Streets.
Construction on Spark Gene Therapy Center to begin by Q4 of 2022
The multi-story Spark Gene Therapy Center will occupy 500,000 square feet, consisting of offices, laboratory and manufacturing spaces. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to commence by the fourth quarter of 2022 and will expand to about 1 million square feet within the next five years. The gene therapy plant, on completion, is also expected to double Spark’s employee headcount from 800 to 1,600 within five years and these opportunities will include both new jobs and transfers from several locations.
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The Switzerland-based Roche bought over the 8 year old Spark Therapeutics two years ago for about $4.3 billion and according to the co-founder and CEO of Spark, Jeffrey Marrazzo, this deal was made to enable them make meaningful investments just like this new Spark Gene Therapy Center. Marrazzo mentioned that through their collaborative efforts, they intend to realize a lot more in terms of research and achieve breakthroughs in gene therapy. He also said that this new facility in Philadelphia would be used in producing all of the gene therapies for the entire Roche group.
Marrazzo pointed out that the aim of building this Spark Gene Therapy Center is to create a de-facto production line, which will enable easy gene therapy research, process development, and manufacturing. He also said the project is targeted at bringing the greatest minds in gene therapy together under the same roof to challenge the inevitability of genetic disease and subsequently effect an improvement in science.
A long-term partnership between Spark and Drexel has also been formed as a result of this new Spark Gene Therapy Center. Drexel University intends on establishing a Drexel Spark Institute, which will serve as an integral part of Drexel’s co-op program. The program will expose students and faculty to the innovative research work handled by Spark, and this will also help in preparing a workforce for life science jobs.
