Biopharma manufacturer opens Sarasota plant
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 15, 2022

A biopharma manufacturer that acquired a plant in Sarasota more than two years ago is ready to show off its new facility.

Akron Bio, based in Boca Raton, took over the 60,000-square-foot biomanufacturing plant in Sarasota in March 2020. The plant, previously home to Cambryn Biologics LLC, is at 600 Tallevast Road.

"The new site will support an increasing clinical development pipeline by relieving and securing industry supply," the company said in a release.

Under Akron Bio, the Sarasota facility will produce plasmid DNA, which the company says is "an important ancillary material used in the manufacture of advanced therapies." The facility, the company said, "will address critical demands in the rapidly growing gene therapy and vaccine markets."

“At Akron Bio, we are highly motivated by the lasting impact that cell and gene therapies, and vaccine treatments, have on patients’ lives,” Robert Wedinger, Akron Bio CEO, said in a statement. “This new facility will allow us to continue to drive the industry forward while ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.”

The company said it plans to double its Sarasota workforce to 100 employees by the end of the year. The company referenced "support from local and state government" but did not disclose any financial incentives.

“We are excited that Akron Bio has continued to demonstrate its commitment to Florida by developing a biomanufacturing workforce in Sarasota, further establishing Florida’s position at the forefront of the life sciences industry,” Nancy Bryan, president and CEO of industry advocacy group BioFlorida, said in a statement.