Bionova Scientific, a full-service biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and part of the Asahi Kasei Group, has announced the opening of a new 10,000-square-foot plasmid DNA (pDNA) development and production facility in The Woodlands, Texas. Located just north of Houston, the facility is expected to help Bionova better support the growing cell and gene therapy industry by producing research-grade pDNA and, eventually, GMP-grade pDNA. With the global pharmaceutical market expected to reach around $3 trillion by 2033, Bionova is preparing to meet rising demand through this significant expansion in capacity.
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The new facility represents a major step in Bionova’s strategy to diversify beyond mammalian protein production. It will begin by focusing on research-grade pDNA, with clinical to commercial-scale GMP production expected by the end of 2025. Since pDNA is a key component in many advanced therapies—such as mRNA-based and viral vector-based treatments—this move allows Bionova to expand its services across a broader range of biotherapeutic platforms.
This new capability will integrate with Bionova’s existing operations at its Bay Area flagship site, where it already supports antibody and protein CDMO services. The expansion is part of a larger strategy to boost production capacity and better meet the evolving needs of advanced therapy developers, offering greater flexibility, dependable timelines, and strong scientific support.
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Darren Head, President and Chair of Bionova, said, “Bionova added these highly sought-after pDNA capabilities to address a pressing need within the cell and gene therapy biopharma community. Completing this specialized facility on time is not only a milestone for our team but a vital step in ensuring our customers get the reliable and timely support they need to meet their own timelines. We chose The Woodlands because of its closeness to a growing number of CGT companies and because its location gives us access to the fast-expanding CGT ecosystem in the U.S. By aligning our strengths with the needs of the CGT sector, we are excited about building long-term partnerships that will help move the industry forward.”
As a core part of the Asahi Kasei Life Science division, Bionova continues to grow in line with its parent company’s broader vision, which focuses on expanding CDMO services, virus filtration, and CRO testing. The new Texas facility reflects a commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies that will power the next generation of advanced therapies, strengthening Bionova’s role as a global provider of high-impact biopharmaceutical solutions.
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