MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES EXPANDS

Microbiological Associates Ltd, a subsidiary of Microbiological Associates Inc of the USA (which claims to be the world's largest biosafety testing company), has announced a major expansion of GMP contract production of gene therapy in Stirling, Scotland. With the opening of a 2,000 square foot facility, MA will be able to provide clients working in gene therapy "with much needed production capacity," the company says.

Scientists working to cure any one of the 3,000 genetically-inherited diseases expected to respond to gene therapy will be able to have the required "treatments" prepared in Europe "by the company which already works with the major gene therapy researchers, and has helped most of the genetically-engineered products already on the market to get there," MA points out. It adds that it has tested virtually all of the gene therapy protocols for cystic fibrosis and adenosine deaminase deficiency both in Europe and the USA.

MA opened a central European office in Germany last year, and is currently expanding its Stirling facilities in a L500,000 ($754,000) deal involving government and local authority grants, which enable the company to make GMP production available in Europe immediately. According to MA's managing director, Ray Cosgrove, "being the first company to develop PG-4 and Mus dunni assays for the detection of replication component retroviruses has made MA the natural partner for both industry and academia."