McKinsey & Co. on Thursday said it launched a new high-tech learning and innovation facility to support the advancement of cell and gene therapy manufacturing, expanding its global network of Digital Capability Centers.

In partnership with the New Jersey Innovation Institute and operated by BioCentriq, McKinsey’s Newark-based facility specializes in innovative manufacturing processes in life sciences.

The Digital Capability Center New Jersey will be located on the Newark campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Our latest Digital Capability Center in Newark will significantly enhance the digital innovation experience for New Jersey’s thriving biopharma sector, and we are honored to partner with NJII and BioCentriq to advance these services that make an impact across the country and around the world,” Jocelyn Grahame, McKinsey New Jersey’s office managing partner stated. “CGT continues to be one of the fastest-growing
areas of biopharma therapeutics, with several new treatments available to patients and hundreds more in development. This facility will help biopharma companies sustain higher levels of innovation and accessibility by helping to solve their operational challenges.”

The biopharma industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with increasing potential for the adoption and scale of digital technologies. For CGT manufacturing in particular, the impact can be substantial in expanding access to new therapies that can treat, and potentially cure, certain debilitating diseases such as: relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, spinal muscular atrophy and Leber congenital amaurosis.

Haro Hartounian, CEO of BioCentriq, said: “We believe that the future of medicine lies in regenerative medicine. Our team is thrilled to have the opportunity to share our expertise and experience in manufacturing cell and gene therapies to help shape the future of this center and ensure that all participants have a realistic and productive experience.”

While cell and gene therapies hold groundbreaking potential to treat debilitating diseases, they are also complex to manufacture. McKinsey’s Digital Capability Center focuses on showcasing advanced manufacturing methods necessary for these therapies. The center will enable more effective operations to improve performance — from advanced analytics for increased yield productivity to artificial intelligence in deviation reduction and digital-twin-based lab scheduling. Most importantly, it helps companies develop the skills, capabilities and cultural changes needed to adapt to and sustain the new methods required for success.

Read the full article here.