Alnylam plans $250m investment in Norton manufacturing facility, US

Core Insights - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is investing $250 million to expand its facility in Norton, Massachusetts, to meet the increasing global demand for RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics [1] - The expansion will create the first fully dedicated small-interfering RNA (siRNA) enzymatic-ligation manufacturing facility, aimed at increasing capacity and lowering production costs [1][4] - The siRELIS platform, accepted into the US FDA's Emerging Technology Program, will facilitate discussions on manufacturing approaches for oligonucleotide-based medicines [2][3] Facility Expansion - The Norton facility will expand to 200,000 square feet, allowing for local production of both clinical and commercial supplies of siRNA oligonucleotide drug substances [4] - Construction is currently underway, with the new offerings expected to be operational by late 2027 [5] - The facility has been operational since 2021 and has contributed to the growth of Alnylam's clinical pipeline, supporting early-stage programs targeting various tissue types [4] Manufacturing Technology - The siRELIS platform enables RNAi therapeutic manufacturing with reduced material and plant resource requirements, supporting sustainable, large-scale production [3] - This advancement is crucial for scaling the pipeline to include potential treatments for diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity [6] - The platform's acceptance follows pilot-scale production of zilebesiran and nucresiran, which are under investigation for cardiovascular events and amyloidosis, respectively [3]