SGS Life Science Services broadens biologics capabilities in France with new lab
Analytical and bioanalytical contract solutions provider SGS Life Science Services is gearing up for the opening of its new bio/pharmaceutical quality control laboratory at Villeneuve La Garenne, a Paris suburb, replacing the existing Clichy facility.
The new multi-million Euro, 2,100m2 facility, strategically located near the main logistics hubs, will support biologics development in the French market, reducing sample processing times through increased operational efficiency. All services in Clichy will be transferred to Villeneuve La Garenne, with a special emphasis on safety equipment to effectively treat organic products and classified carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR) substances. The new site will also introduce services to address the growing biopharmaceutical pipeline with capabilities for mycoplasma tests and amino acid analysis.
The contamination of cell cultures by mycoplasma is a major risk for the biopharmaceutical industry. By their diversity, their small size and lack of bacterial wall, these microorganisms are not detectable visually, are very difficult to remove and can compromise the quality of biologic medicines. To meet the needs of its customers, SGS has created a new Mycoplasma detection department.
"By recruiting an expert project manager, Aude Sanchez, engineer in biotechnologies, and being in close collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leading supplier in this field, SGS has the means to provide innovative solutions, performance and reliability to its customers," said Paul Beyou, laboratory director for Life Science Services Villeneuve La Garenne. “In addition to fluorescence detection methods and automated DNA extraction combined with qPCR, SGS can detect over 90 species of mycoplasmas and achieve results in 48–72 hours.”
The creation of this new laboratory confirms the SGS Group’s commitment to increase its capacity and expand its service offering in France. Additionally, this development complements the bioanalytical capabilities of its other French laboratory based in Poitiers.