Company plans to add 175 new jobs as it ramps up production of novel T cell therapies
BALTIMORE, MD (March 29, 2021) — TCR2 Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage cell therapy company with a pipeline of novel T cell therapies for patients suffering from cancer, today announced that it is opening a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in Rockville and plans to create 175 new jobs over the next two to three years. The company will build out an existing 85,000 square-foot facility, which will help them meet the clinical and commercial demand for gavo-cel.
“After observing the consistent early clinical benefit and manageable safety profile experienced by patients treated with gavo-cel, we committed to securing a dedicated U.S. manufacturing facility as the first step in building a regional network to supply cancer patients with our therapies,” said Garry Menzel, Ph.D., president and CEO of TCR2 Therapeutics. “Leasing an existing manufacturing footprint is a substantial milestone for TCR2, saving us valuable time and capital so that we can be ready for commercial production in 2023. Our new state-of-the-art facility will allow us to directly leverage our cell therapy process development expertise and control our end-to-end production supply chain. We are very pleased to be building a world-class cell therapy production facility for gavo-cel that will bring new hope to cancer patients suffering from solid tumors.”
To assist with project costs related to the expansion, the Maryland Department of Commerce has approved an $875,000 conditional loan contingent on job creation and capital investment. Montgomery County has approved a $100,000 Economic Development Fund conditional grant contingent on job creation and capital investment. The company is eligible for several tax credits, including the Job Creation Tax Credit, More Jobs for Marylanders, and the county’s New Jobs Tax Credit.
TCR2 utilizes its proprietary TCR Fusion Construct T cells (TRuC®-T cells) to specifically recognize and kill cancer cells. Cancer patients have naturally occurring T cells that can target their own cancer cells. However, T cells do not always recognize tumors or may not be produced in sufficient numbers. Engineered T cell receptor (TCR) therapy equips these cells with a new T cell receptor that allows the T cells to target specific cancers. This treatment can be personalized for each patient.
“We are very pleased to welcome TCR2 Therapeutics and all of the new life sciences jobs the company will bring to our state,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “The company’s effort in leveraging the T cell receptor complex has the potential to impact many cancer patients around the world and we are excited that they have chosen to do that important work right here in Maryland.”
“TCR2 Therapeutics’ cancer-fighting products make them one of the most promising cell therapy companies in the life sciences industry," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "We realize that this company explored options in other leading life science markets, and are delighted that they’ve decided to bring 175 new jobs to a new state-of the-art manufacturing space in Montgomery County—just miles from the National Cancer Institute.”
“It’s great news that, working together with our partners in Montgomery County, we have attracted yet another world-class company to our growing life sciences community in Maryland,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Our highly-educated workforce, proximity to many key federal agencies and labs, and critical mass of life sciences companies and resources makes our state the ideal place for a growing company like TCR2 to continue its life-saving work developing transformative cell therapies.”
“In choosing Montgomery County, TCR2 found the perfect location to quickly build their advanced manufacturing facility and accelerate the development time of their personalized cancer therapies,” said Benjamin H. Wu, president & CEO of Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. "The company’s arrival and long-term commitment truly add to Montgomery County's stature as the Immunology Capital next to the Nation's Capital."
