Seqens Group, an integrated developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates, has opened Seqens Boston R&D Center, a state-of-the-art, 15,000 sq.-ft. R&D center in Devens, MA. Serving as one of the company’s global centers of excellence, the new facility will provide advanced capabilities for the discovery and development of new drugs and therapeutics. 
 
The company invested $5 million in the new facility that features advanced technologies, equipment and design, adhering to the highest levels of quality, sustainability and safety. The new lab replaces an older, smaller R&D facility in Devens, and all current employees have moved to the new lab. Seqens plans to double the number of scientists there by 2026.
 
The new R&D Center expands project flow, enhances quality and accelerates development of APIs and excipients, including lipids used for the manufacture of RNA vaccines for COVID. It will serve as the North American flagship for Seqens’ global R&D network – consisting of 10 R&D centers across Europe and North America to support pharmaceutical customers from preclinical phases through to commercialization. 
 
The investment in Devens significantly strengthens the company’s U.S. operations – which also includes contract development and manufacturing facilities in Newburyport, MA. The official opening comes a year after SK Capital became a majority shareholder in the group merging it with its portfolio company Wavelength Pharmaceuticals to create one of the largest and diversified CDMOs. 
 
“Everything starts with R&D. Transitioning our R&D center of excellence to the new Devens facility is an opportunity to continue our expansion into the U.S. market, within a state known as a vibrant academic hub, and support our customers with integrated R&D services that set new benchmarks for innovation, safety, sustainability and quality,” said Pierre Luzeau, president and CEO of Seqens Group.
 
Seqens is also investing significantly across the company in technologies such as flow chemistry and biocatalysis to speed development of custom polymers, lipids, and high potency APIs. To combat a shortage of the pain reliever paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the U.S., Seqens is currently building a plant in France to produce over half of Europe’s paracetamol needs.