ProBio, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in cell and gene therapy, has opened its Cell and Gene Therapy Center of Excellence at the Princeton West Innovation Campus in Hopewell, New Jersey. The 128,000 sq ft GMP facility is purpose-built for manufacturing plasmid DNA and viral vectors, including adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral vector (LVV) platforms.
The celebration included an open house event featuring a guided site tour, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a keynote address by Donavon Decker, the first person in the world to receive gene therapy for any form of muscular dystrophy in 1999. Decker shared his experience from the trial at Ohio State University—led by Jerry Mendell—and spoke about how facilities like ProBio’s Hopewell site help translate scientific advances into real patient outcomes.
The Hopewell site is equipped to support clinical-stage development, process-development and scale-up for cell and gene therapy programmes. During the open house, guests toured advanced GMP suites and production lines, and engaged with ProBio’s scientific and operations teams as well as industry, academic, and government partners.
“This is not just a new facility. It is a beacon of hope for patients waiting for cures,” said Allen Guo, CEO of ProBio.
“Opening the Hopewell centre is a milestone in ProBio’s global expansion and underscores our mission to support biopharma innovators with high-quality, responsive manufacturing solutions.”
Bringing more than 110 high-skilled jobs to New Jersey, ProBio’s Hopewell facility continues to expand. GMP AAV manufacturing is set to launch by Q3 2025, with GMP LVV services to follow in Q1 2026—enabling support for a broader range of therapeutic candidates from early proof-of-concept through clinical readiness, all within one integrated site.
ProBio’s Hopewell facility is the company’s North American hub, designed to support and complement its broader operations across North America and Europe. The strategic investment aligns with efforts to strengthen transatlantic biomanufacturing capacity and resilience—positioning the site to meet growing demand for advanced therapeutic production across both continents.
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
